Amgen Joins Gilead Sciences as a Program
Supporter
Applications Now Open for Physicians and
Medical Students
The Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Award Program
(Winn Award Program) established by the Bristol Myers Squibb
Foundation (BMSF) today announced that Amgen, a global
biotechnology company, has committed to contribute $8 million over
the next four years. This contribution will enable the program to
reach additional physicians and medical students, further expanding
the initiative that aims to extend the reach of clinical trials in
underserved patient populations in U.S. communities.
The Winn Award Program has so far trained 114 early-stage
investigator physicians, and it has provided an immersive
experience in community-based clinical research to 44 medical
students who are from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. It is
now accepting applications from physicians for the third cohort of
its Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Career Development
Award (Winn CDA) and from medical students for the second cohort of
its Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Clinical
Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) Award. With the additional
support from Amgen, it is set to reach more than 300 diverse and
community-oriented clinical investigators and 300 diverse medical
students by 2027.
“With the skills, experience and networks they will gain from
participation in the Winn Award Program, these extraordinary
physicians and students will make a significant difference in how
healthcare is delivered in the U.S.,” said Jude Ngang, Executive
Director, and leader of the Amgen Representation in Clinical
Research (RISE) program. “Supporting physicians and medical
students dedicated to health equity and emphasizing the need for
increasing diversity in clinical trials early in their careers is
an important step toward improving the health of all people.”
Diversity in clinical trials is a longstanding challenge in
healthcare, and currently close to 80% of participants in clinical
research trials are white, according to the Food and Drug
Administration. Lack of diversity in clinical trials hinders the
ability to eliminate health disparities and ensure medicines are
safe and effective for all patients. To address this issue, the
BMSF created the Winn Award Program in 2020 as part of its
commitment to health equity, inclusion and diversity. The BMSF
chose Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as the program
implementation partner and the American Association for Cancer
Research (AACR) as a curriculum partner to deliver The Robert A.
Winn – AACR Design and Implementation of Clinical Trials Workshop,
the first training the Winn CDA scholars receive. The program is
named in honor of Robert A. Winn, M.D., Director and Lipman Chair
in Oncology, VCU Massey Cancer Center and Chair of the Winn Award
Program National Advisory Committee.
“It is no secret that the current state of clinical research
does not reflect the diversity of the U.S. population,” said John
Damonti, President, Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF).
“Substantial, lasting change can be accomplished only if everyone
is a part of this movement in diversifying healthcare. As we strive
to ensure that safe and effective medicines and therapies are
available for all across the nation, we are honored to have Amgen
serve as a supporter of the Winn Award Program in achieving this
vision.”
The BMSF pledged $100 million to support 250 Winn CDAs and 250
Winn CIPPs over the span of the program. In 2022, Gilead Sciences
committed $14 million of support, including 10 Winn CDAs and 10
Winn CIPPs per year for four years.
“Gilead is pleased to welcome Amgen to the Winn Award Program as
a new and very appreciated supporter,” said Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD,
Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences. “At Gilead, we’re committed
to creating a healthier world for everyone. By investing in the
training and development of clinical trial scientists, we’re
recognizing and supporting transformative medical breakthroughs
while expanding reach to more patient populations and
communities.”
The Winn Award Program currently offers two awards: the Winn
CDA, a two-year program designed to support diverse physicians and
those who have demonstrated commitment to increasing diversity in
clinical trial research within their local communities, and the
Winn CIPP, a six-week summer externship during which diverse
medical students are provided an immersive experience in
community-based clinical research. The Winn Award Program
encourages others in the healthcare industry to consider
participating as faculty and/or sponsors. Interested parties can
learn more about the program at diversityinclinicaltrials.org and
contact the team at winnawardinfo@vcu.edu.
About the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, an independent charitable
organization, focuses on communities most at risk of suffering the
impacts of serious diseases in regions of the world that are
hardest hit. It empowers partners to develop and test innovative
solutions to advance health equity and improve access to quality
healthcare for patients. Grant making focuses on cancer,
cardiovascular disease, and immunologic disease, as well as
clinical trial diversity in the United States, and prevalent
cancers in nine African countries, Brazil and China. The mission of
the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation is to promote health equity and
improve the health outcomes of populations disproportionately
affected by serious diseases by strengthening healthcare worker
capacity, integrating medical care and community-based supportive
services and mobilizing communities in the fight against disease.
For more information, visit Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
(bms.com).
About Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a major, urban public
research university with national and international rankings in
sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls
nearly 29,000 students in 238 degree and certificate programs in
the arts, sciences and humanities. Twenty-three of the programs are
unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU’s
11 schools and three colleges. For more, please visit vcu.edu.
About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization
dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent
and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 52,000
laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population
scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates
residing in 130 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of
expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually
convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops, the
largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting. In addition, the AACR
publishes 10 prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a
magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The
AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation
with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of
Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants
administration, and scientific oversight of team science and
individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the
potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively
communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the
value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving
lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit
www.AACR.org.
About Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has
pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three
decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all
people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines
to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV,
viral hepatitis and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35
countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City,
California.
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