2008-06-02 23:39:26 -

- Newark Public Schools Michelle Baldwin, 973-733-7311 mbaldwin@nps.k12.nj.us or RxeSEARCH Becky Taylor, 908-310-7452 rebeccataylor3@verizon.net or Bristol-Myers Squibb Fred Egenolf, 609-252-4875 frederick.egenolf@bms.com or Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Gina Moran, 862-778-5567 or 973-476-3643 gina.moran@novartis.com or Schering-Plough Corporation Fred Malley, 908-298-7428 fred.malley@spcorp.com More than 75 Newark high school students and teachers today probe the challenges and complexities of making medicines when they interact with

research scientists in a roundtable discussion sponsored by RxeSEARCH, a new educational program about the drug discovery process.

The students come from five Newark high schools: Arts, East Side, West Side, University and Weequahic. They are piloting the educational curriculum developed by the National Science Resources Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian and the National Academy of Sciences, in partnership with 11 school districts in five states and the pharmaceutical industry.

In the event at Newark's Banneker Science Center, seven research scientists and physicians from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Schering-Plough Corporation and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, discuss career opportunities and scientific challenges and explain their diverse roles in the pharmaceutical industry.

Some students participating in the Roundtable are currently enrolled in the 11-lesson RxeSEARCH curriculum. Others will take the course next fall. Through the curriculum, students are investigators battling against a simulated epidemic of an unknown disease. They determine the cause of the outbreak and seek to develop a treatment or cure.

"By presenting our students with this fictional story in the classroom, they begin to understand the motivations and challenges facing the R&D process. With today's panel discussion, the story will become a reality to the students as they meet representatives from the industry who have faced similar situations in their careers," said Gayle Griffin, Assistant Superintendent, Newark Public Schools and Vice-Chair of the RxeSEARCH Steering Committee.

"Today's Roundtable is just one example of how the RxeSEARCH program creates collaborative opportunities between the pharmaceutical industry and our partner school districts," said Wesley Metheny, Senior VP, Alliances, Affordability and Access for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and Chair of the RxeSEARCH Steering Committee.

While the RxeSEARCH program is designed to improve science and technology teaching and learning, its approach is interdisciplinary. The curriculum includes not only biology and chemistry but also mathematics, social studies and language arts. In the process, students develop skills in problem solving, decision making and critical thinking while also learning about the broad range of possible career paths in the pharmaceutical industry from scientist to marketer to physician and business person.

"An important element of the RxeSEARCH Roundtable is the teamwork involved in developing medicines. Scientists are at the core of the R&D process, but the industry also needs good writers, businesspeople, mathematicians and information technology experts working together," said Kevin Rigby, Vice President, Public Affairs, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

"Our quest to discover lifesaving medicines never ends. Neither does our search for talented scientists and other professionals who can help us unlock the mysteries of serious disease," said Anders Hedberg, Director of Corporate Philanthropy, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Despite many years of progress, our society faces significant health challenges. Heart disease, diabetes and obesity continue to devastate communities such as Newark, for example. By encouraging talented high school students to study science and technology and by providing them an opportunity to explore the complex and challenging world of pharmaceutical research and development, we move a step closer to our goal of prevailing in the fight against serious disease."

"Each scientist here today was once inspired by a teacher or other adult to pursue a science career. We're proud to support programs like RxeSEARCH through the participation of Schering-Plough colleagues who share their passion and commitment to the important work of drug discovery and development," remarked Joseph Starkey, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Schering-Plough.

The RxeSEARCH program is a public-private partnership led by PhRMA and created by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Eleven participating school districts, including Newark Public Schools, are in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Iowa. Other educational partners include the National Science Resources Center and NJ Department of Education. Pharmaceutical industry partners include Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Schering-Plough, Wyeth and the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey.

New Educational Program Improves Science Education, Focuses on
Career Opportunities