AbbVie CF Scholarship Now Accepting Applications from Students with Cystic Fibrosis for 2016-2017 Academic School Year

- Scholarship recognizes 40 exceptional students with cystic fibrosis (CF) for academic excellence, creativity, and community service

- More than $2.6 million in scholarships awarded over 24 year history of the program

News provided by

AbbVie

Apr 06, 2016, 08:00 ET

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., April 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie today announced that the 2016 AbbVie CF Scholarship, which honors and supports young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) as they pursue higher education, is now accepting applications. Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for the scholarship from now until May 27, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. U.S. central time by visiting www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com.

For the 24^th year, the AbbVie CF Scholarship will award exceptional students with CF who demonstrate academic excellence, community involvement, creativity, and the ability to serve as a positive role model for the CF community. In fact, in recognition of the outstanding work accomplished, AbbVie has increased the individual scholarship award amounts and 40 scholars will be selected to receive $3,000 each. Recipients will also have the opportunity to compete for public votes to win a Thriving Student Scholarship in one of two categories based on level of study. The Thriving Undergraduate Student and Thriving Graduate Student will each be awarded a total of $24,000 for use toward education-related expenses.

"Being awarded the AbbVie CF Scholarship helped me reach my educational goal of a master's degree in bioethics and certification in clinical ethics mediation at the University of Pennsylvania," said Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, 2011 Thriving Graduate Student and 2015 White House Champion of Change for Precision Medicine. "The education I received empowered me to find my voice as a patient advocate, which has been critical for the growth of my non-profit CF foundation, Emily's Entourage, which has raised nearly $2 million in four years to accelerate research for new treatments and a cure for rare nonsense mutations of CF."

The AbbVie CF Scholarship is part of AbbVie's ongoing commitment to the CF community, which is comprised of approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Today, nearly half of the CF population is age 18 or older.¹

"Not long ago, children with CF rarely lived long enough to attend elementary school. Today, thanks to tremendous medical advances, students with CF are conquering high school, college, and even graduate school," said Jim Hynd, vice president, GI Care, AbbVie. "Since 1993, AbbVie has proudly offered the scholarship program. Helping students achieve their milestones is our focus."

About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of those living with this condition.¹ In patients with CF, a thick, sticky mucus is produced in certain organs throughout the body, most commonly the lungs and digestive system. The mucus build-up in the lungs can cause difficulty breathing and may lead to life-threatening lung infections. In the digestive system, the thick mucus may prevent proper food digestion, potentially leading to malabsorption and malnutrition.

About the AbbVie CF Scholarship
The AbbVie CF Scholarship was established 24 years ago in recognition of the financial burdens many families touched by CF face and to acknowledge the achievements of students with CF. Since its inception, the scholarship program has awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships.

It is not necessary for scholarship applicants to have taken, currently take, or intend to take in the future, any medicine or product marketed by AbbVie, and this is not a consideration in the selection criteria. More information about the AbbVie CF Scholarship criteria and application can be found at www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

References

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. About Cystic Fibrosis. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Available at: https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/Diagnosed-with-Cystic-Fibrosis/. Accessed March 2016.

SOURCE AbbVie