PhRMA Foundation Announces New Young Investigator Grantees to Advance Medication Adherence Research

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Foundation has awarded four research grants as part of its Young Investigator Adherence Grant Program.

Established in 2012, the Young Investigator Adherence Grant Program was created by the PhRMA Foundation to support research conducted by predoctoral candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty to advance knowledge of innovative and effective approaches to improve medication adherence.

Evidence demonstrates that medication adherence — defined as a patient taking medications as directed — can yield better clinical and economic outcomes. The cost of nonadherence has been estimated by researchers to cost the U.S. health care system $100 billion to $300 billion annually, including costs from avoidable hospitalizations, nursing home admissions, and premature deaths. Closing the adherence gap is critical to improving the quality of health care, encouraging better chronic care management, and promoting better outcomes.

"Nearly three out of four Americans do not take their medications as directed, underscoring the importance of research to advance research on medication adherence," said Eileen Cannon, executive director of the PhRMA Foundation. "These grants will hopefully help spur development or evaluation of policies, interventions, or tools to improve medication adherence."

Through the grant program, the Foundation has supported eleven promising adherence researchers who share the goal of finding large scale approaches to improve medication adherence. To be considered for an award, applications undergo a rigorous peer review process in which each is scored and ranked by a panel of seasoned academic researchers.

The 2015 Young Investigator Adherence Grantees include:

• Xian Shen, MS, University of Maryland (predoctoral)
• Satya Surbhi, MS, University  of Tennessee (predoctoral)
• Sujit S. Sansgiry, PhD, University of Houston (research starter)
• Susan Abughosh, PhD, University of Houston (researcher starter)

About the PhRMA Foundation
The PhRMA Foundation has supported the field of drug discovery and the careers of scientific investigators, faculty members, and physicians for 50 years. Funding the research of more than 2,200 young scientists, the Foundation continues to pave the way for the future of patient care.

The mission of the Foundation is to support young scientists in disciplines important to the pharmaceutical industry by awarding them competitive research fellowships and grants at a critical decision point at the outset of their careers. The aim is to encourage young scientists who will be the leaders of tomorrow to pursue careers in research and education related to drug discovery.

For more information, visit www.phrmafoundation.org

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SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Foundation

Related Links

http://www.phrmafoundation.org/

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