To date, the Amgen Foundation has committed $375 million to nonprofits dedicated to impacting lives in inspiring and innovative ways, of which $200 million has gone to meaningful, evidence-based initiatives that advance science education. As the principle corporate philanthropy channel for leading biotechnology company Amgen, Inc., the Amgen Foundation advances excellence in science education, inspires the next generation, and invests in strengthening the communities where Amgen staff members live and work.
The Amgen Foundation funds the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE), a program that reimagines how students experience science in the classroom and, more broadly, helps expand science literacy. ABE provides hands-on molecular biology secondary school curricula, teacher professional development, curriculum materials, and research-grade equipment and supplies at no cost to schools. Approximately 90,000 students and 1,500 teachers participate annually in 25 locations across 13 countries.
EDC has served as the ABE Program Office since 2013, designing biotech curricula, providing professional learning opportunities for program sites and teachers, and supporting the focus on equity and access. ABE also collects data on the effectiveness of the program. The Program Office recently released a new curriculum, Exploring Precision Medicine, which allows students to investigate how genetics allows physicians to tailor disease prevention and treatment to individuals and how genetics plays a role in the ongoing opioid crisis. Additionally, the team provides support to ABE sites and teachers in using virtual laboratory simulations and other resources for the ABE labs on LabXchange.
EDC appreciates the opportunity to work with the Amgen Foundation as we help them fulfill their mission, particularly during this challenging time.