Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) is celebrating
20 years of
caring deeply with the 20th anniversary of the Biogen
Foundation and the Biogen Community Lab. The Biogen Foundation was
established in 2002 and has since provided $70 million to help
underserved communities in advancing science education, health
equity, and food security. In 2002, Biogen also established the
first-ever corporate Community Lab in Cambridge, Mass., a free
science education program for students in middle and high school.
Since then, the Company also opened a second Community Lab in North
Carolina, and together more than 61,000 students have participated
in the program. The Community Lab aims to inspire the next
generation of science leaders in collaboration with teachers and
local non-profit collaborators.
In looking to the future, the Company plans for a Biogen
Community Lab 2.0, which will include an enhanced neuroscience
curriculum, a newly founded alumni network, and expanded global
reach. Biogen has set a goal to engage a total of nearly 90,000
students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
education by 2025, focusing on populations historically
underrepresented in science.
“At Biogen, we are committed to advancing neuroscience to
transform the lives of patients and to positively impact our
communities where we live and work. We know that advancing health
equity requires a multi-pronged approach including building the
next generation of scientific leaders,” said Michel Vounatsos, CEO,
Biogen. “We aim to further build on our Foundation legacy by
expanding our efforts in the U.S. and around the world, and
enhancing our Community Lab to address the gaps we are facing in
STEM education, especially for underserved communities and those
who are underrepresented in our field.”
Biogen will officially kick off this 20th anniversary together
with the Red Sox Foundation, which the Biogen Foundation has
supported since 2016. Biogen Community Lab graduate and Red Sox
Scholar Armany Peguero will throw out the first pitch at the Red
Sox game on Friday, June 17, 2022. Peguero is a rising junior at
Northeastern University studying electrical and computer
engineering.
“STEM education enables students like Armany to gain the strong
foundation needed to succeed in college and the workforce,” said
Kate Dawson, Head of Therapeutics Development Unit and Chair,
Biogen Foundation. “For more than 20 years, Biogen and the Biogen
Foundation have supported educational programs like the Red Sox
Scholars and visionary initiatives like the Biogen Community Lab,
one of the first and longest-running hands-on corporate science
programs.”
Biogen anniversary events will continue throughout 2022,
including:
- The launch of a new Biogen Community Lab Alumni Network to
connect and engage students over the long term
- STEM week events to advance the dialogue and action on STEM
education
- A recognition and appreciation event for Biogen collaborators
and Foundation grantees
- Expanded Biogen annual volunteer Care Deeply program to include
a 20-day period of hands-on service and giving opportunities in our
communities
Biogen Foundation Quick Facts
- Jointly developed the first-of-its-kind Youth Neurology
Education and Research Program, deeply engaging students – more
than 86% from underrepresented groups -- with leading neurologists
and neuroscientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH),
increasing student interest in pursuing neuroscience careers from
54% to 100%
- Fostered a STEM education ecosystem in Mass., engaging more
than 500 teachers and 3,000 students in its $10 million Student,
Teacher support, Access & Readiness (STAR) initiative
- Founding supporter of the North Carolina Science Festival and
Technorama in Switzerland, reaching millions of people since the
programs began
- Advanced food security, through collaborations with the Greater
Boston Food Bank and Food For Free. In 2021 alone, the Biogen
Foundation helped serve more than 130,000 meals, supporting Food
For Free’s Just Eats program and donating 500 square feet of
in-kind space in Biogen’s headquarters. For 20 years, the Biogen
Foundation also has supported the Greater Boston Food Bank with
efforts ranging from out of school time programs to Hunger Free
Holidays.
- Engaged Biogen employees in more than 100,000 volunteer hours
since 2011
- Matched 100% of Biogen employee contributions to nonprofits,
totalling more than $11 million since 2016, and donated $10 to
nonprofits for every hour Biogen employees volunteer
Biogen Community Lab Quick Facts
- Established the first-ever corporate Community Lab in
Cambridge, Mass. in 2002, and a second Community Lab site in North
Carolina in 2014
- Developed a high school curriculum with the American Public
Health Association focused on climate and health
- Brought science education to more than 61,000 students
- Pivoted to meet educational needs during the pandemic via
virtual instruction, reaching more than 3,600 students in 19
countries
- Students set to participate in the 2022 class include 40%
low-income students and 70% from groups traditionally
underrepresented in STEM
Read more in Biogen’s 2021 Year in Review.
About BiogenAs pioneers in neuroscience, Biogen
discovers, develops, and delivers worldwide innovative therapies
for people living with serious neurological diseases as well as
related therapeutic adjacencies. One of the world’s first global
biotechnology companies, Biogen was founded in 1978 by Charles
Weissmann, Heinz Schaller, Sir Kenneth Murray, and Nobel Prize
winners Walter Gilbert and Phillip Sharp. Today, Biogen has a
leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis, has
introduced the first approved treatment for spinal muscular
atrophy, and developed the first and only approved treatment to
address a defining pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Biogen is also
commercializing biosimilars and focusing on advancing one of the
industry’s most diversified pipelines in neuroscience that will
transform the standard of care for patients in several areas of
high unmet need.
In 2020, Biogen launched a bold 20-year, $250 million initiative
to address the deeply interrelated issues of climate, health, and
equity. Healthy Climate, Healthy Lives™ aims to eliminate fossil
fuels across the company’s operations, build collaborations with
renowned institutions to advance the science to improve human
health outcomes, and support underserved communities.
We routinely post information that may be important to investors
on our website at www.biogen.com. Follow us on social
media - Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube.
About the Biogen FoundationThe Biogen
Foundation supports access to science education and to essential
human services for children and their families in the communities
in which Biogen facilities are located. The Biogen Foundation is
committed to sparking a passion for science and discovery,
supporting effective science education initiatives and
strengthening efforts to make science education and science careers
accessible to diverse populations.
About the Biogen Community LabThe Biogen
Community Lab program is a signature example of the company’s
commitment to science education. The mission of the Lab is to
excite more young people about science and inspire the next
generation of STEM leaders. With locations at Biogen’s world
headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts and in Research Triangle
Park (RTP), North Carolina, the Community Lab is a state-of-the-art
laboratory classroom where local middle and high school students
engage in hands-on biotechnology experiments and interact with
scientists and other biotech professionals. It offers free daylong,
interactive science activities, rigorous summer programs and
teacher professional development. The Cambridge facility started in
2002 and is the longest-running, hands-on corporate science lab in
the nation. The Community Lab in North Carolina opened in 2014.
Collectively, the Labs have served more than 61,100 students to
date.
Biogen Safe HarborThis news release contains
forward-looking statements, including statements made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, about our strategy and plans; and our ability
to achieve our ESG goals, commitments and targets. These statements
may be identified by words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,”
“could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,”
“plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “will,” “would” and other words
and terms of similar meaning. You should not place undue reliance
on these statements.
These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in
such statements, including without limitation the risks of
unexpected hurdles, costs or delays; uncertainty of success in the
execution of our strategy and plans; the direct and indirect impact
related to the effect of COVID-19 on our business and operations,
including sales, expenses, supply chain, manufacturing, research
and development costs, clinical trials and employees; and the risks
and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of
our most recent annual or quarterly report and in other reports we
have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The
foregoing sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could
cause actual results to differ from our expectations in any
forward-looking statement. Investors should consider this
cautionary statement, as well as the risk factors identified in our
most recent annual or quarterly report and in other reports we have
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These
statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and
speak only as of the date of this news release. We do not undertake
any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future developments or
otherwise.
MEDIA CONTACT:BiogenAshleigh Koss+ 1 908 205
2572public.affairs@biogen.com |
INVESTOR CONTACT:BiogenMike Hencke+1 781 464
2442IR@biogen.com |
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