Amgen Foundation Deepens Commitment To Aspiring Scientists Worldwide By Expanding Amgen Scholars Program

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Amgen Foundation today announced the expansion of the Amgen Scholars Program, a hands-on research program that allows undergraduates to spend a summer at one of many of the world's premier research institutions. The new four-year, $21 million commitment brings the program to a total of 24 elite institutions across the U.S., Europe, Asia and, for the first time, Australia and Canada. Over the next four years an additional 1,500 undergraduates from hundreds of colleges and universities will have the chance to engage in research opportunities in biomedical and biotechnology fields. This brings the Amgen Foundation's total investment in the Amgen Scholars Program to $74 million over 16 years, reaching 5,400 undergraduates.

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This signature initiative builds upon the Amgen Foundation's mission to advance excellence in science education and empower tomorrow's innovators, a goal to which the Foundation has contributed nearly $150 million globally to date. Eight new Amgen Scholars partners—Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, University of Melbourne, University of Toronto, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Yale University—will join the already distinguished group of host institutions, which includes Harvard University, National Institutes of Health, University of Cambridge and the University of Tokyo, among others.

"As the pace of innovation increases, so too does the need to educate the scientists of tomorrow," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen. "We look forward to further expanding the reach of the Amgen Scholars Program, which has already provided research opportunities to thousands of talented undergraduates at premier institutions around the globe, and now has the potential to do much more."  

Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Scholars Program has made research opportunities at premier institutions possible for more than 3,900 undergraduate students representing 700 colleges and universities. Of those alumni who have completed their undergraduate studies, nearly 900 are currently pursuing an advanced graduate degree in a scientific field, and another 280 have earned their Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. More than 500 are employed in scientific fields across 33 countries, with 99 percent of surveyed alumni saying the program impacted their academic or professional direction. Alumni of the program are beginning to make a growing impact across academia, industry and government, garnering numerous awards and recognitions, such as the Rhodes Scholarship, NIH Director's New Innovator Award and selection to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Healthcare.

"The Amgen Scholars Program solidified my passion for translational research and made me confident in a laboratory environment. In addition to gaining skills in several experimental techniques, I also learned how to think like a scientist," said Joy Wolfram, Ph.D., Amgen Scholar Program alum, and Mayo Clinic lead for the Nanomedicine and Extracellular Vesicles Lab. "After completing the program, I have been extensively involved in international research collaborations between the United States, China and Europe."  

Amgen Scholars aims to break down barriers for many students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to engage in science at the world's top educational and research institutions. Financial support for students is a critical component of the program, which seeks to ensure that eligible students, regardless of their financial status, can participate.

The program provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in the process of discovery and build intellectual connections with some of the most accomplished scientists around the world. Undergraduate participants benefit from undertaking a research project with the mentorship of top faculty, being part of a cohort-based experience, participating in seminars and networking events and taking part in a symposium in their respective region where they meet their peers, learn about biotechnology and hear from leading scientists in both industry and academia.

"The Amgen Scholars Program offers our students a unique opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research under the mentorship of world-renowned scientists," said Rakesh Khurana, Danoff Dean of Harvard College. "The academic and professional success of so many of the program's alumni over the past 12 years clearly demonstrates the value of the program, and why this expansion is so exciting."

The host institutions are now accepting applications for the 2019 Amgen Scholars Program. For more information about the Amgen Scholars Program or to complete an application, visit www.AmgenScholars.com and follow us on Twitter at @AmgenFoundation.

AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM HOST INSTITUTIONS 
*Indicates New Host Institution for 2019

• United States
  California Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Duke University,* Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University,* National Institutes of Health, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, UC San Francisco, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,* Washington University in St. Louis, Yale University*
                                                      
• Europe
  ETH Zurich, Institut Pasteur, Karolinska Institute, LMU Munich, University of Cambridge
                                                      
• Asia
  Kyoto University, National University of Singapore,* Tsinghua University,* The University of Tokyo
                                                      
• Australia
  University of Melbourne*
                                                      
• Canada
  University of Toronto*

ABOUT THE AMGEN FOUNDATION 
The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance excellence in science education to inspire the next generation of innovators and to invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. To date, the Foundation has donated over $300 million to local, regional and international nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. For more information, visit www.AmgenInspires.com and follow us on Twitter at @AmgenFoundation.

CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks:  
Andrea Fassacesia, 805-905-2575 (media) 
Jennifer van der Borgt, 805-447-5597 (media)

SOURCE Amgen