Program

Pharmaceutics is that area of the pharmaceutical sciences that seeks the optimal development of a drug delivery product or device and its subsequent performance in the delivery of the drug from the device following its administration to a patient. Pharmaceutics is a multidisciplinary area, with significant underpinnings from such basic scientific disciplines as physical chemistry, physical organic chemistry, and biophysics.

The number of well-trained graduates from Ph.D. programs in pharmaceutics who further develop and refine their research skills through formal postdoctoral training is limited. The reasons for this frequent absence of postdoctoral research experience are several. They include strong employment demand by industry and academia for junior scientists when they graduate from doctoral programs and a shortage of funds available to universities for the ready support of postdoctoral fellows. This situation serves to compromise the ultimate research capabilities of many such graduates. The lack of postdoctoral experience can be particularly telling for Ph.D. graduates seeking academic positions and often renders them less competitive in the successful pursuit of extramural funding - a factor which is so necessary for a productive research program.

The PhRMA Foundation recognizes the critical need for such well-trained scientific investigators. Accordingly, it wishes to encourage more qualified graduates to obtain postdoctoral research training in pharmaceutics. The Foundation seeks to achieve this goal by providing fellowships each year to qualified applicants who have the opportunity to become involved with mentors, facilities and programs that, collectively, can be expected to provide an excellent environment for the fellow. Applications will be accepted for postdoctoral research training extending over a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years. Each fellowship carries an annual stipend of $40,000 which can be supplemented by the sponsor and/or his/her institution.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must either (i) hold a Ph.D. degree in pharmaceutics or a related discipline from an accredited U.S. university or (ii) expect to receive such a degree before activating the fellowship. The mentor of the fellow must be in an accredited school of pharmacy. Alternatively, a student with a Ph.D. from a school of pharmacy may use the fellowship to study with a mentor in any science or engineering department. Applicants should indicate a strong determination to continue their research careers in pharmaceutics following completion of the fellowship. An equally important aspect of eligibility is that suitable facilities for the necessary training and research must be available to the applicant. The program with which the applicant is, or will be, associated must provide an environment where the applicant's potential can be developed to the fullest extent possible.

Before an individual is eligible to apply for a PhRMA Foundation award, the applicant must first have a firm commitment from a university in the U.S. Applications must be submitted by an accredited U.S. school and all applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Purpose

For the purposes of this program, pharmaceutics includes basic pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical technology and pharmaceutical biotechnology. Ph.D. graduates in chemistry, physics, biology and related areas who wish to develop expertise and careers in pharmaceutics through relevant post-doctoral experience are also encouraged to apply. The fundamental aspects of pharmacokinetics are not included since these are covered by PhRMA Foundation programs in pharmacology and toxicology. The focus of the program is to assist in the postdoctoral research training of the applicant. It should be stressed that the quality of the research proposed will be a major factor in the selection of fellows. Research projects that extend or develop the proprietary value of specific drug products are not acceptable in this program. This exclusion does not preclude research in which specific drug products are used to test hypotheses which have a general applicability.

Applications, however good, which do not meet the aims of the program will be disapproved.

Award

The award, consisting of a $40,000 annual stipend, is made to the institution on behalf of the fellow. The award is intended solely as a stipend and may not be used otherwise. If necessary, the institution may supplement the award to a level that is consistent with other postdoctoral fellowships it currently offers. If the stipend is to be supplemented, indicate the amount. If no supplement is intended, so state this. The program provides no other subsidies (travel, tuition, fringe benefit costs, etc.) and indirect costs to the institution are not provided. It is expected that the fellowship will be administered in accordance with the prevailing policies and procedures of the institution.

The second year of this award is contingent upon a progress report approved by the Foundation and submission of a financial report.

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