|
Despite landmark advances in medical research and treatment in recent years, many children still suffer from congenital mental and developmental disabilities. The Fund since its inception has supported initiatives on behalf of an underserved, largely unrecognized segment of this population: children who are both mentally disabled and emotionally disturbed. One of Serena Merck's legacies is The Fund's bedrock commitment to help these children lead productive lives and to alleviate the hardship and anguish experienced by their parents.
John Merck Scholars Program
The Fund in 1990 established the John Merck Scholars Program in the Biology of Developmental Disabilities in Children. This program supports research into the underlying neurobiology of developmental disabilities and associated cognitive impairments. Its goal is to gain insights that eventually might lead to breakthroughs in prevention and treatment.
Every year, a panel of eminent scientists selects three John Merck Scholars from a national pool of candidates nominated by leading medical education institutions. Each scholar receives a four-year research grant of $300,000. The Fund hopes these grants will encourage gifted young scientists to pursue careers that could improve the lives of developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed children.
Serena Merck Award
Serena Merck took a profound interest in those who devote their lives to caring for developmentally disabled children. To recognize the vital work caregivers do, The Fund established the Serena Merck Memorial Award in 1997. The award is presented annually to an individual who, in the opinion of a distinguished panel of judges, brings outstanding personal qualities and care-giving skills to bear in the lives of developmentally disabled children.
In 2005, the award name was changed to the Serena Merck Direct Service Memorial Award for Innovation and Dedication in Practice and a second award was added: the Serena Merck Leadership Memorial Award, to recognize an individual who has proven leadership and guidance that have resulted in the significant improvement of quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. The awards both carry a $5,000 cash award and a plaque, presented at an awards luncheon at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed.
In 2006, the Serena Merck Direct Service Memorial Award was given to Bill Bergeron, a special needs aide at Wilton High School in Connecticut. Mr. Bergeron works with dozens of young adults to provide not only academic support within the classroom, but also social, behavioral and vocational opportunities within Fairfield County. He started his own “Friends & Buddies” organization that offers many extracurricular activities for special needs students.
The 2006 Serena Merck Leadership Memorial Award was given to Lee Marcus, director of the Chapel Hill Training and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children — TEACCH. Mr. Marcus has been a leader in the field of autism treatment, education and outreach. He has helped thousands of people with autism and their families by overseeing clinical services, by training hundreds of students and professionals in how to diagnose and most effectively treat autism, and by participating in various research projects.
In 2005, the Serena Merck Direct Service Memorial Award was given to Catherine Johnson, a respite care provider and residential habilitation trainer for challenged children in Wyoming. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of Ms. Johnson's efforts because her work helps them keep their children at home where they can enjoy being a part of their community. She launched a program for children during the summer months at the Rehabilitation Enterprises of North Eastern Wyoming.
2007 Grants
John Merck Scholars Program in the Biology
of Developmental Disabilities in Children
Brigham and Women's Hospital |
$75,000 |
| To recognize Howard Hiatt's longtime devotion to the John Merck Scholars Program, to support the Hiatt Global Health Residency. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research by John Merck Scholar Kevin Pelphrey on charting normal and abnormal development of the social brain. Second installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support the study the regulation of synaptic development by the neurexin-neuroligin complex by John Merck Scholar Peter Scheiffele, PhD. Fourth installment of a four-year, $235,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To conduct the 2007 summer institute on the biology of developmental disabilities. |
|
$15,000 |
| John Merck Scholar Raymond Kelleher, MD, PhD
To support research by John Merck Scholar Raymond Kelleher on neuronal activity-dependent protein synthesis in cognition and cognitive disorders. First installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research on the functional and molecular analysis of the DSCAM family of neuronal immunoglobulin receptors by Dietmar Schmucker, PhD. Fourth installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research by John Merck Scholar Rebecca Saxe on the neural basis of theory of mind in typical development and autism. First installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research by John Merck Scholar Anna Penn, PhD, on hunger's modulation of taste perception. First installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research on neural underpinnings of deficient cognitive controls in developmental disorders affecting frontostriatal circuitry by John Merck Scholar Silvia Bunge. Third installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research by John Merck Scholar Kristin Scott on the modulation of taste perception by hunger. Second installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research by John Merck Scholar Terunaga Nakagawa to determine the molecular architecture and functional modulation of glutamate receptor complexes; key molecules in cognition, emotion and behavior. First installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research on the neural correlates of learning in the hippocampal-cortical circuit by John Merck Scholar Loren Frank. Fourth installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
|
$75,000 |
| To support research on the role of neuronal excitability in vocal plasticity by John Merck Scholar Teresa Nick. Third installment of a four-year, $300,000 grant. |
> back to top
Family Support Grants
|
$15,000 |
| To provide travel assistance for parents and caregivers to attend the annual conference; and to provide general support. |
> back to top
> back to top
|
|
|
