New program will provide needed support for future life science leaders

Washington, DC and Little Falls, NJ (June 3, 2014):  The Roche Foundation and ARCS Foundation (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, Inc.) announced today a unique program to support outstanding graduate life science students at universities across the United States. The Roche/ARCS Foundation Scholar Award Program in the Life Sciences will support the next generation of life science leaders and further the foundations’ shared interest in the advancement of science.

Nancy Spetzler, ARCS Foundation National president said, "The scientific innovations of Roche/ARCS Scholars will help build a better future and drive economic growth in our country.  That's why it is so exciting for ARCS Foundation to partner with The Roche Foundation with its long history of support for science innovation.  This collaboration will strengthen our ability to fulfill the ARCS Foundation mission of advancing science in America."

Through this partnership, The Roche Foundation will provide a total of $663,000 in funding to support as many as 40 Roche/ARCS Foundation Scholars over the next three years.  The program follows a unique model, where awards provide a much-needed form of support for outstanding young life science scholars to achieve success.

This program leverages ARCS Foundation’s established infrastructure and expertise in supporting U.S. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students and demonstrates The Roche Foundation’s commitment to strengthening America’s capacity for innovative research.

The first class of Roche/ARCS Scholars, among the top young scholars in the U.S., will be selected by universities that are ARCS Foundation academic partners with approved departments and programs in life sciences. The qualifying university programs are typically rated in the top 100 nationally.

About the Roche/ARCS Foundation Scholar Award Program

The Roche/ARCS Scholar Award Program is a new funding model for both The Roche and ARCS Foundations providing support for the next generation of outstanding graduate life sciences scholars in the US. All awardees will be Ph.D. candidates in the life sciences at universities that are ARCS Foundation academic partners, which includes the study of medically relevant fields including the scientific study of living organisms, such as microorganisms, animals and human beings, as well as related work in chemistry, computer sciences, engineering and materials sciences that could eventually be applied towards the study of living organisms. While biology remains the centerpiece of the life sciences, technological advances in molecular biology, chemical synthesis methods for creation of medicines, biotechnology for design and production of protein drugs, and computer sciences (bioinformatics) have led to a burgeoning of specializations and new, often interdisciplinary, fields.

About ARCS Foundation

ARCS® Foundation is a national nonprofit volunteer women’s organization that promotes American competitiveness by supporting talented U.S. citizens working to complete degrees in science, technology engineering, mathematics (STEM) and health disciplines at 54 of the nation's leading research universities. Since 1958, the organization has awarded more than $87 million to more than 8,900 students. ARCS Scholars have produced thousands of research publications and patents, secured $1.5 billion+ in grant funding, started more than 1,800 science related companies and played a significant role in teaching and mentoring young people in the STEM pipeline. More at www.arcsfoundation.org.

About The Roche Foundation

The Roche Foundation is one of the oldest charitable foundations in the U.S. and focuses its support on health promotion as well as science and math education. The Roche Foundation’s latest endeavor with ARCS Foundation is to support the next generation of science leaders and further the foundations’ shared interest in advancing science in America.