Ferring Racial Equality Research Grants
Ferring is funding research grants on racial equality in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health.
As a leader in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health, Ferring is determined to play our part in reducing racial disparities in maternal mortality and to improving in vitro fertilization (IVF), pregnancy and post-partum outcomes for black communities, indigenous communities and all communities of colour.
At Ferring, we are committed to building families and helping people live better lives. At the core of Ferring’s mission is our work to deliver better outcomes at every stage of the reproductive journey, from conception to birth. As part of that commitment, Ferring is launching a new grants programme to better understand and, ultimately, drive solutions to tackle racial disparities in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health.
The Ferring Innovation Grants Programme for Racial Equality in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health aims to fund projects in basic and translational research, clinical research, epidemiology and prevention research and social science research.
What is of interest to Ferring
The Ferring Innovation Grants Programme for Racial Equality in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health aims to fund multidisciplinary research projects across four main areas:
- Basic and translational research: research to further understanding of the reproductive and maternal health conditions that disproportionally affect black communities, indigenous communities and all communities of colour, and result in a higher risk of morbidity or mortality. Conditions of interest include, but are not limited to; infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm birth, cardiomyopathy and other cardiovascular conditions associated with maternal death, and post-partum haemorrhage (PPH).
- Clinical research: research into the services available and clinical care of black communities, indigenous communities and all communities of colour during infertility diagnosis, IVF treatment outcome, pregnancy, birth and post-partum (fourth trimester care) – including research into interventions aiming to reduce the impact of unconscious bias in clinic care settings. Research proposals in this track should reflect the importance of the patient perspective in study design.
- Epidemiology and prevention research: epidemiological studies, including social, lifestyle, exposure and behavioural studies, seeking to understand the origins of racial disparities in IVF access and outcome, pregnancy and maternal health outcomes and ultimately drive solutions to tackle disparities in these areas.
- Social science research: including but not limited to political, policy and human rights research exploring the structural factors that impact on black communities, indigenous communities and all communities of colour that contribute to lower than expected outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), pregnancy and overall maternal and post-partum health, including the barriers to participation in clinical trials. Research proposals in this track should reflect the importance of the patient perspective in study design.
In addition, projects across all research areas exploring racial disparities in COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation and health outcomes during pregnancy and birth are also welcomed.
Available funding
The programme will provide a limited number of research grants of up to EUR 20,000 per research project.
Who should apply
We encourage submissions from researchers and research organisations around the world who are committed to reducing racial disparities in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals is committed to creating a diverse community and an inclusive culture which embraces, respects and values different perspectives and backgrounds. We encourage researchers from diverse backgrounds to submit applications to the Ferring Innovations Grants Programme for Racial Equality in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health.
How to apply
Applications will be open from 28 April 2021 to 1st July 2021. For more information, and to apply for the grants programme, please click here.
