Science & Education

Our support for independent research dates back to 1924, when we established what was probably Switzerland’s first private foundation to support young scientists. Our commitment continues today.

In the 1970s we founded the Roche Institute for Molecular Biology in the US and the Basel Institute for Immunology in Switzerland to support independent basic research in these areas. Scientists from both institutes have been honoured with major awards, including three Nobel prizes.

In 2000 the Basel Institute for Immunology became the Roche Center for Medical Genomics. Its mission is to apply genetics and genomics to study the molecular basis of major diseases and aid in the discovery and development of new and more effective therapies.

Over the years we have also maintained our support for academic research. Since 1971, for example, the Roche Research Foundation for Scientific Exchange and Biomedical Collaboration has been supporting young scientists engaged in biological or medical research. In 2006 the Foundation selected 70 research proposals out of a total of 279 submissions and disbursed funding totalling 2 million Swiss francs. The Group continues to support immunological research through the Roche-endowed Chair for Immunology at the University of Basel.

We have pledged 50 million Swiss francs over a ten year period to the independent Roche Organ Transplantation Research Foundation. In the first half of 2006 this foundation selected 12 projects from Europe, the US and Canada, providing grants totalling 2.1 million Swiss francs.

The Roche Foundation for Anaemia Research (RoFAR), an independent, scientist-led, and internationally active Medical Research Charity,  was founded in 2004.  Although fully funded by Roche, the Foundation is legally independent.  RoFAR supports groundbreaking scientific research, both basic and clinical, investigating anaemia, erythropoietin and related topics. Applications for RoFAR grants are sought bi-annually from established members of academic staff at universities, hospitals and research centres. These are then assessed by the RoFAR Scientific Advisory Board. We have pledged an initial sum of 16 million Swiss francs over its first four years. To date, more than 7 million CHF (5.4 million USD) have been awarded to 34 research projects worldwide. Award winners, who receive grants of up to 200,000 CHF each, are currently exploring key questions in nephrology, diabetology, haematology, oncology, ophthalmology, neurology and cardiology.

In addition to its regular research grants, RoFAR administers special grants for innovative proposals involving established researchers, which provide proof of principle and/or research which have the potential to be transferred into clinical practice.

The Roche MBA Fellowship programme, provides grants to encourage talented scientists to complement their medical or science qualifications by studying business in an international setting. In 2006, 2 fellowships were given to two highly promising candidates. In the US, the Technical Training Project prepares young people from minority backgrounds for a career in science and technology. Roche was a founder member of the project in 1968 and still provides it with financial support. In Switzerland we work closely with Schweizer Jugend forscht, a foundation that gives young people the chance to watch scientists at work and also sponsors competitions in which they can work on science projects of their own. Roche affiliates support similar programmes in other countries.