Alkermes Supporting Local Communities

Nov 28, 2022 11:20 AM ET

Originally published in Alkermes 2021 Corporate Responsibility Report

Alkermes respects the culture, customs and values of the people in the communities in which we operate. We seek to support and positively impact these communities through our grant programs, sponsorship contributions and volunteer support.

Sponsorships

Alkermes is proud to be part of the broader healthcare community that supports individuals with addiction, serious mental illness or cancer. In support of these efforts, we foster and maintain relationships with a variety of health-related and public policy organizations. In 2021, we continued to sponsor non-profit organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Partnership to End Addiction, and continued to bring awareness to programs and initiatives of other organizations that work to improve the lives of people affected by mental illness and addiction. In oncology, we sponsored several initiatives with tumor-specific and pan-tumor advocacy organizations, including the Melanoma Research Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, Cancer Support Community and the American Cancer Society, which are focused on patient, survivor and caregiver support, education and research.

Funding in Support of Research and Charitable Organizations

Innovative research, programming and funding are urgently needed to support those who are living with addiction, serious mental illness and cancer. In 2021, Alkermes awarded approximately $1.6 million in research grants and charitable donations in support of these communities.

Inspiration Grants

Since 2016, our Alkermes Inspiration Grants® program has awarded more than $4 million in funding to innovative programs that support the needs of people impacted by addiction, serious mental illness and cancer. In 2021, we received more than 250 applications for this highly competitive program, and grants were awarded to 11 nonprofit organizations working to address the needs of people living with these complex conditions, including programs serving historically under-resourced or underrepresented communities, including Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, women and people impacted by the U.S. criminal justice system.

The 11 grant recipients included the following:

  • We Bloom’s five Recovery Cafés across the state of Indiana offer services catered toward building social and emotional health, community connectedness and recovery capital with a focus on holistic, long-term recovery that supports its members beyond treatment. The Recovery Cafés’ services include peer support, resources and daily meals, and activities and classes to support, empower and encourage members on their journey of recovery from substance use disorders, mental illness, trauma, grief, loss, poverty, homelessness and/or family violence
  • The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is working to enhance and expand its Animated Patient’s Guide to Ovarian Cancer for Improved Health Outcomes to include two new modules: Understanding Clinical Trials and Understanding Biomarkers and Genetic Mutations. Designed for patients, families and the public at large. The program also provides an expert-authored, evidence-based education series for healthcare professionals based on recommendations from the American Medical Association for patient communication and education.
  • SHE RECOVERS Foundation (SRF) is conducting Mental Health Mondays, a series of virtual one-hour educational sessions designed to support the health and well-being of women experiencing addiction and/or serious mental illness. The webinars are delivered by content experts, including clinicians and individuals with lived experience. Topics are gleaned from consultation with SRF’s population-based support groups – including Black, Indigenous and women of color; LGBTQ+ individuals; veterans and first responders; healthcare professionals; and individuals living with mood and anxiety disorders.

Pathways

Since 2016, the Alkermes Pathways Research Awards program has provided funding to 16 researchers working to advance our understanding of diseases in the field of neuroscience.

The annual program provides opportunities for individual grants of up to $100,000 per research project for early-career investigators focused on research relating to substance use disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Information about past grant recipients can be found on the Research & Medical Grants page of the Research & Development section of our website.

4th Annual Alkermes Pathways Research Awards Program Recipients:

  • Claudia Lopes, Ph.D., McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Altered glutamatergic development in hippocampal-cortical circuitry in 3D models of psychotic disorder
  • Amanda Lowell, Ph.D., Yale University, Neuroplasticity in maternal opioid use disorder
  • Renato Polimanti, Ph.D., MSc, Yale University, The impact of socioeconomic factors on psychiatric and somatic comorbidities of schizophrenia: a genetically-informed epidemiological study rat model
  • Walter Roberts, Ph.D., Yale University, Predicting alcohol use events in people with alcohol use disorder using mobile sensors: towards automated telehealth treatment
  • Kangho Suh, Pharm.D., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, Assessing the comparative and costeffectiveness of second-generation antipsychotics long-acting injectables in schizophrenia

Community Engagement

Our employees are passionate about helping to care for people and the environment in the local communities in which we work, supporting not only organizations and programs that are connected to the diseases that our medicines treat, but also causes for which they feel a personal connection through their own experience or that of their loved ones.

United States

In 2009, a group of employees started Alkermes in Action, an annual program of volunteering to support our local communities with hands-on activities that align with our values and embody our compassion. Over the past decade, more than 5,000 volunteers have worked with more than 50 local community organizations, establishing meaningful, long-term relationships with many of them.

In 2021, this program consisted of a mix of virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities with local organizations focused on education, caring for veterans, maintaining outdoor community spaces and providing for children and families in need.

Since 2014, when Alkermes supported renovation of the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen in Waltham, MA, Alkermes employees have routinely volunteered to make and serve fresh meals at the kitchen. Despite volunteering restrictions due to COVID-19, Alkermes employees continued to support the soup kitchen throughout 2021 in a socially-distanced manner by ordering and delivering pre-packaged meals from local restaurants.

Ireland

Alkermes employees in Ireland proudly support local organizations that seek to address a range of needs including mental health, cancer care, education, shelter and domestic abuse services and homelessness, among others. In 2021, as COVID-19 restrictions continued to impact our employees’ ability to volunteer in person, this support was achieved through a combination of financial contributions and employee participation in virtual events. Some examples of the organizations and initiatives supported include:

  • Daffodil Day is the Irish Cancer Society’s biggest fundraiser, taking place annually in March and raising millions of Euros to support cancer patients and their loved ones with free advice, resources and critical cancer research. In 2021 and 2022, the celebration remained virtual, and employees were encouraged to donate to this cause and submit photos symbolizing hope.
  • Recognizing the impact that our business can have on the local environments in which we work, Alkermes employees at our Athlone site have worked on various projects designed to improve community biodiversity. Efforts have included the planting of a pollinator-friendly garden, partnerships with local conservation organizations such as Athlone Wildlife Apiaries and Coosan Men’s Shed, and participation in community-led projects that support wildlife in and around Athlone.
  • In 2021, Alkermes again partnered with the local secondary school in Athlone as part of a government-sponsored program to support educational inclusion. This long-running partnership aims to prepare students for the working world while also improving school retention rates for at-risk students by creating a link between education and future employment opportunities. In 2021, the program was adapted for a slightly younger audience and rebranded as the ‘World of Work’ program. It involved four sessions supported by Alkermes employees that focused on teaching practical skills and providing first-hand insights into realworld work environments.

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