AbbVie supporting young scientists with a focus on fostering diversity

Pharma News: For the sixth consecutive year, AusBiotech partner AbbVie is championing Australian students and supporting young people and their interests in science, to grow, learn and build their knowledge.

AbbVie’s support of the AusBiotech Student Scholarship & Volunteer Programme provides students across Australia, including in regional and remote areas, the valuable opportunity to participate, learn, exchange and engage in the virtual AusBiotech 2021 conference.

Almost 90 students from across Australia have been awarded this opportunity.

Dr. Laura Issa, Business Development Search and Evaluation Lead for AbbVie Australia and New Zealand told Health Industry Hub “The AusBiotech Student Scholarship brings together two areas we are really passionate about at AbbVie – supporting young scientists and embracing diversity and inclusion. We are so proud to play a part in helping to nurture young talent, with a focus on fostering diversity within the scientific community.”

Dr Kinza Asif from University of Melbourne said “AusBiotech will help me participate and find opportunities to collaborate between academia and industry…and the experience I will get from such industry exposure would help me thrive in a practical research environment.”

Michael Kalkandis from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University commented “Lockdowns have made thins tough, but I’m determined to use my passion for biology as a source of excitement. I want to hear other scientists share their work and research showing me what I could possibly do after my masters. As a life sciences student from a rural area, I hope to also connect with other small-town students.”

This is a great example of pharma-biotech collaboration towards closing the academia-industry gap in shaping the future of healthcare.