Merck Serono Increases Commitment to the Grant for Fertility Innovation Program to 4 Million Euros

Announced for the first time in 2009, the GFI is dedicated to transforming innovative translational fertility research projects at academic centers into concrete health solutions to improve the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). In the last three years, around 400 applications to GFI were received from over 40 countries around the world.

“We welcome Merck Serono’s commitment which contributes to fuel innovation in the field of fertility. Since the 1950s, great discoveries have been made leading to the development of treatments and the birth of millions of babies thanks to cutting edge techniques such as in vitro fertilization,” said Dr. Anna Veiga, Chaiman of ESHRE. “While tremendous progress has been made over the years, research must continue to allow further advances.”

“Our GFI program has already enabled previous winners to publish important research, which may lead to new medical approaches in fertility, a key therapeutic area for Research and Development at Merck Serono,” said Dr. Annalisa Jenkins, Executive Vice President Global Development and Medical at Merck Serono. “We firmly believe that scientific collaboration that brings together researchers from across the academic and industry continuum will be the leading driver for the next wave of research and medical innovation.”

Every year, the GFI awardees are announced during a ceremony at ESHRE’s annual meeting. This year’s ceremony was presided by Dr. Annalisa Jenkins, joined by Timur Gürgan, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of ESHRE 2012, Dr. Anna Veiga, Chairman of ESHRE, and Prof. Nick Macklon, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the University of Southampton, and past GFI winner.

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