Merck Sharp & Dohme is a major supporter of Australian science, supporting a comprehensive set of programs to help build Australia’s science capability and contribute to a sustainable biotechnology sector in Australia.

Encouraging Students

Merck Sharp & Dohme is committed to investing in Australian research and developing the scientists who will make breakthrough discoveries of the future. The Company supports a series of ‘grass roots’ programs to encourage talented students at high school and university to pursue a career in science.

• Australian Science Olympiads
  Merck Sharp & Dohme is a proud sponsor of the Australian Science Olympiads, a challenging nationwide science competition for high school students. Organised by Australian Science Innovations Inc., the Olympiads provide secondary students with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, understanding and skill in biology, chemistry and physics. Now in its 20th year, the Australian Science Olympiads program aims to nurture and support Australia’s talented science students. The $90,000 sponsorship focuses on the Chemistry stream of the Olympiads.

  For more information, visit the Australian Science Olympiads website.

• High School Visiting Program
  Several times each year, students from local high schools visit the Merck Sharp & Dohme Quality Control (QC) laboratories and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sydney. These visits aim to encourage students to choose science subjects for their two senior high school years and to enrol in university science degree courses.

   

• University Pharmacy Student Visiting Program
  Undergraduate pharmacy students from the University of Sydney regularly visit the Merck Sharp & Dohme head office and manufacturing facility in Sydney to learn about how life-saving and life-enhancing medicines are discovered and developed.

   

• John Shaw PhD Fellowship
  Sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme and administered by the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC), this three year postgraduate research scholarship assists science, health and health-related honours graduates of outstanding ability to attain a PhD by full-time research.  Of the 170 NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships offered each year, the John Shaw Scholarship is second only to the ‘Gustav Nossal Scholarship’ in monetary value. The John Shaw Scholarship is the only NHMRC Fellowship sponsored by a pharmaceutical company.

  For more information, click here

Helping Scientists

Merck Sharp & Dohme supports post-doctoral scientists in a variety of ways, from helping scientists to attract a full research grant, to assisting them to develop specialized skills, to providing training on the fundamentals of commercialisation.

• Bridging Grants
  Merck Sharp & Dohme offers Bridging Grants to researchers who have an innovative concept but insufficient data to attract a full research grant from funding bodies. The untied bridging grants are intended to provide sufficient funding for the researcher to prove their concept and generate enough high quality data to secure full funding for their research. Recent grants have been awarded to Professor Elizabeth Rakoczy from the Lions Eye Institute at the University of Western Australia, Professor Roland Stocker from the University of Sydney and Professor Fred Mendelsohn from the Howard Florey Institute & University of Melbourne.

   

• The Merck Sharp & Dohme Howard Florey Medal
  Merck Sharp & Dohme is proud to sponsor the “Merck Sharp & Dohme Howard Florey Medal”. The Florey Medal was established in 1998 to honour Australia’s Nobel Prize-winning scientist, Sir Howard Florey.  Sir Howard is renowned around the world for his work in developing the infection-fighting drug, penicillin.  An initiative of the Australian Institute of Policy & Science, the Florey Medal is awarded every two years to an eminent Australian working in Australia or overseas for a milestone achievement in biomedical science and human health advancement.  Previous winners have included Prof Ian Frazer, Prof Barry Marshall, Prof Robin Warren, Prof Jacques Miller, Prof Colin Masters and Prof Peter Colman.  Recipients receive a $25,000 cash prize and medal at a special event attended by industry, academia, politicians and media.

  For more information, click here 

• The Advancing BioBusiness Award
  Merck Sharp & Dohme and Advance have formed a partnership to open new doors for Australian life scientists with the Advancing BioBusiness Award.  The Award will provide the next generation of leaders in Australian biotechnology with access to leading institutions, companies and individuals in the US involved in commercialising life sciences.  Through the award, we hope to better equip Australia’s leading scientists to face the challenge of turning their discoveries into commercial success. In addition to attending the BIO International Convention in Boston in May 2007, the successful applicants will participate in a tailored program of meetings with leading organisations involved in the life sciences sector.  The Advancing BioBusiness Award aligns strongly with our belief at Merck Sharp & Dohme that matching Australia’s excellence in science with the pharmaceutical industry’s experience in getting products to market has the potential to make a significant contribution to a sustainable biotech sector in Australia.

  To download more information in a pdf document, click here.

• American Australian Association Fellowship Grants
  The American Australian Association’s Fellowship program is the largest privately funded education program between Australia and the United States, and it receives hundreds of applications each year from post-graduate scholars at leading universities in both countries.  Association Fellows win the opportunity to attend prestigious institutions in the US to undertake post-graduate study and research.  The Fellowship program contributes to the growth of the intellectual capital of Australia by giving young Australians the opportunity to advance their knowledge in the US and work with research facilities and mentors unavailable in Australia.  Merck Sharp & Dohme sponsors a Fellowship Grant each year.

  For more information on the program, click here. 

• Commercialisation Training for Clinical Scientists
  Commercialising a new discovery is a difficult and confusing proposition for many researchers.  Merck Sharp & Dohme provides an opportunity for clinician scientists with a Fellowship from the Royal Australian College of Physicians to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of commercialisation of intellectual property. Each year, Merck Sharp & Dohme funds a weekend course on commercialisation at which scientists learn the fundamentals and meet professionals representative of the spectrum of expertise required for successful product commercialisation.  The course is run by IMBcom, the commercialisation arm of the Institute of Molecular Bioscience in Brisbane.

Assisting the Research Industry

• Sponsorships
  Merck Sharp & Dohme is a major sponsor of national and international research conferences.  Annual sponsorships include support of the Australian Society for Medical Research’s Medical Research Week, AusBiotech, the Australian Biotechnology Summit and the NSW BioFirst Commercialisation Awards.  We also sponsor international meetings held in Sydney such as the International Congress on Obesity, the International Meeting on Hepatitis C Virus & Related Viruses and the International Congress of Human Genetics. We also provide support for speakers, institute seminars, and student posters/presentations on an ad-hoc basis.

   

• Industry Partnerships
  Merck Sharp & Dohme is an Industry Partner in the Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Grants Scheme. This program supports research and development projects that are undertaken to acquire new knowledge and that involve risk or innovation.
  

   

• Supporter of Industry Associations
  Merck Sharp & Dohme is a corporate member of the Australian Society of Medical Research (ASMR), the peak professional society representing Australian health and medical research, a corporate member of AusBiotech, the industry body representing the Australian biotechnology sector, and a foundation member of Research Australia, a national alliance of organisations and supporters with a common goal of making health and medical research a higher national priority. 
  - Click here for more information on ASMR. 
  - Click here for more information on Research Australia.  
  - Click here for more information on Ausbiotech.

   

• Pharmaceuticals Education Council
  The Pharmaceuticals Education Council (PEC) was established in 2003 through the Pharmaceuticals Industry Action Agenda, a 10 year growth strategy for the pharmaceuticals industry. The role of the PEC is to identify the current and future skills needs of the pharmaceuticals industry and to ensure a consistent and coordinated national approach to addressing these needs.  Merck Sharp & Dohme works with the PEC to improve science course uptake by first year university students.
  

   

• Pharmaceuticals Industry Council
  Established in 2006, the Pharmaceuticals Industry Council (PIC) brings together AusBiotech, the Generic Medicines Industry Association and Medicines Australia. Chaired by the Managing Director of Merck Sharp & Dohme, Will Delaat, the PIC focuses on developing initiatives to increase investment in Australia, to create a global hub for pharmaceutical research, development and commercialisation.