Purpose

Progress in pharmacological research requires the constant entry of well-trained investigators into the field. The PhRMA Foundation recognizes that the training of such individuals is long and expensive, requiring four to five years of post baccalaureate study and research. To provide some assistance in this training sequence, the PhRMA Foundation program aims at supporting promising students during their thesis research. The program provides a stipend and funds to cover costs incidental to the training. Applications will be accepted for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years.

The program is designed for candidates who expect to complete the requirements for the Ph.D. in the fields of pharmacology or toxicology in two years or less from the time the fellowship begins.

The program assumes that the fellows will devote full-time (including summers) to their research. The PhRMA Foundation fellowship may not be used to supplement funds from other fellowships, traineeships or assistantships, unless necessary to make stipend levels compliant with institutional policy. The focus of the program is to assist in the predoctoral training of the candidate. It should not be viewed as a program to fund a research project. Applications, however good, which do not meet the aims of the program wil be disapproved.

Eligibility

The fellowship program of pre doctoral support is designed to assist full-time, in-residence Ph.D. candidates in the fields of pharmacology or toxicology who are enrolled in USA schools of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry or veterinary medicine. The program supports full-time advanced students who will have completed the bulk of their pre-thesis requirements (at least two years of study) and are engaged in thesis research as Ph.D. Candidates by the time the award is activated. Students just starting in graduate school should not apply.

In the field of pharmacology or toxicology, highest priority will be given to applications for research that attempts to integrate information on the mechanism of action of a drug or chemical at a molecular or cellular level with the drug's effects in the intact laboratory animal or human, encompassing the potential influences of biochemical, physiological or behavioral systems. The pharmacology/toxicology research and teaching mission of the unit awarding the degree must be apparent as a core mission component on their web site.

A candidate enrolled in an M.D./Ph.D. program should not be taking required clinical course work or clerkships during the tenure of the fellowship.

Applications must be submitted by an accredited U.S. school, and all applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Due to the high demand for this fellowship, the PhRMA Foundation will accept only one application per academic institution. Exceptions may be considered for institutions with multiple campuses.

Award

The award is made to the university on behalf of the fellow. The fellowship provides a stipend of $20,000 a year payable monthly for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years. Of the $20,000 awarded annually, up to $500 a year may be used for incidentals directly associated with the thesis research preparation (e.g., secretarial help, artwork, books, travel, etc.). Awards may be activated beginning January 1, 2010 or on the first day of any month thereafter, up to and including August 1, 2010. The second year of funding, if applicable, will be contingent upon a satisfactory review of the award recipient's progress during the first ten months of funding. A progress report will be due to the Foundation prior to the beginning of the second year of funding. The progress will be assessed by the Informatics Advisory Committee. The decision will be based on adherence to the goals of the announcement of the overall program, and also in keeping with the originally proposed research on which the award was based. In addition to the progress report, the Foundation must receive certification from the thesis advisor that satisfactory progress is being achieved

The program, therefore, is designed to provide students stipend support during thesis research. An individual may not simultaneously hold or interrupt any other fellowship providing stipend support during the PhRMA Foundation fellowship. During the tenure of the fellowship, the fellow must be a full-time in-residence student. These funds are not transferrable.

The stipend may be continued for up to three months after completion of the requirements for the doctorate, provided that the student remains in the department during this period and has obtained no other stipend or salary support. This provision applies only if there is sufficient time remaining within the agreed upon period of the fellowship and upon specific request to the Foundation, detailing how the time would be used.

Indirect costs are not provided to the institution and PhRMA Foundation grant funds may not be used for this purpose.