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Unrestricted Educational Grants


Mission

Valeant is committed to improving the quality of life for patients and reducing the gap in medical knowledge for both medical professionals and lay persons. Accordingly, we provide funds to support qualified medical/scientific educational programs that enhance and provide meaningful improvements to patient care and provide valuable information to the medical community. Valeant's support of continuing medical education programs, Grand Rounds, patient advocacy programs, sponsorships, and other educational activities which support medical or educational growth in the therapeutic areas of neurology and dermatology is another way that Valeant improves life for others.

Compliance

Submitted grants must be in compliance with the following guidelines and guidance:

  • Office of Inspector General (OIG) Compliance Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufactures
  • Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Commercial Support of Educational Programs
  • Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance on Industry Supported Scientific and Educational Activities
  • American Medical Association (AMA) Guidelines on Continuing Medical Education
  • Valeant internal company policies and guidelines

Therapeutic areas supported


Valeant is primarily interested in funding educational programs in the following areas where we have promoted products.

Dermatology

  • Sun damaged skin
  • Actinic Kerasotes
  • Skin cancer
  • Severe psoriasis
  • Skin care regimen to improve the appearance of skin aging, blotchiness and roughness
  • Reduction in the appearance of scars, skin aging and apparent pigmentation

Neurology

  • Epilepsy
  • Migraines
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Neuropathic Pain

Grant Consideration


Types of grants considered

Unrestricted educational grants that either improve patient care or provide valuable information to the medical community will be considered. Valeant will not have control over the content of programs; that is not to say that we will make grants without knowing the general topics to be covered. The purpose for the grant must be designated in a formal letter of request and that designated purpose is the only one for which the grant funds may be used. Events such as patient/consumer education programs or educational activities for professional healthcare providers typically fall within these guidelines. Grant requests must demonstrate the ability to meet unmet educational needs of the target audience or encourage the improvement of patient outcomes.

  • Healthcare professional education (priority will be given to accredited programs)
  • Grand Rounds
  • Sponsorships
  • Patient advocacy and consumer education (e.g., disease-state education and awareness, screenings, camps, etc.)
  • Symposia/satellite symposia
  • Seminars/presentations
  • Interactive programs (e.g., Internet, CD-ROMS)
  • Accredited CME and non accredited CME programs (certified will be given priority)

Prohibited Grants

Grant requests will not be considered if they are for:

  • Retroactive support, including enduring materials
  • Travel, lodging, or registration expenses for non-faculty healthcare professionals to attend an educational program
  • Promotional expenses
  • Exhibit and display fees
  • Stand alone entertainment or social events
  • Activities intended to influence, develop a relationship with, or reward any grant recipient, individual or entity with respect to the purchase, prescription, recommendation or formulary placement of any Valeant product or service
  • Personal travel
  • Capital campaigns/Building funds
  • Website development not associated with an accredited educational program
  • Textbooks and journal subscriptions
  • Under no circumstances may a grant be offered or provided with the intent of, directly or indirectly:
    • Influencing, developing a relationship with, or rewarding any grant recipient, individual or entity with respect to the purchase, prescription, recommendation or formulary placement of any Valeant product or service
    • Promoting a Valeant product or service
    • Paying for travel, housing expenses, entertainment, recreational expenses or time spent for attendees at educational events. The exceptions are medical students, residents, or fellows in which the grant permits individuals selected by the academic or training institution receiving the grant to attend major educational, scientific, or policy-making meetings of national, regional, or specialty medical associations. The individuals are not attending the event solely for the purpose of making or attending presentations relating to Valeant products and presentations relating to Valeant products are not the only presentations at the event. Valeant has no direct or indirect role in the selection of the attendees.
  • General capital or operating expenses (e.g., office equipment/staff, computer hardware/software medical library resources, etc.)

Criteria


Criteria and considerations for awarding grants is based on supporting programs that best addresses educational short comings in the most cost effective manner. Criteria considered include the following:

  • Availability of funds
  • Efficient use of funds
  • Activity demonstrates ability to satisfy unmet educational needs
  • Promotes excellence in patient care
  • Meets accreditors' guidelines related to content, venue, etc.
  • Meeting format is efficient and effective for the target audience.
  • Activity's needs assessment is well-developed, current, and clearly identifies the relevant educational gaps. On large scale events, such as CME, it references document sources and reflect current clinical issues
  • The activity's learning objectives are clearly defined, realistic and aligned with the needs assessment. The learning objectives should also be measurable and optimally, tied to outcomes measurements
  • Alignment with Valeant's areas of educational interest
  • Budget provided with line item details
  • Ability to educate the broadest target audience at an appropriate/ cost effective manner
  • Agenda has sufficient details and is consistent with the learning objectives of the activity
  • The activity is scientifically rigorous, balanced and unbiased
  • Target audience is identified
  • All prerequisite forms are complete, incomplete requests will be rejected
  • Provider has a reputation for presenting effective, scientifically-rigorous and accurate activities in the relevant therapeutic area. Provider's past activities have been well-executed, well-attended by the target audience and have been highly rated by participants
  • Provider has a documented history of compliance with industry standards (ACCME, OIG, PhRMA, etc.)

Eligible Organizations

  • Not for profit associations, foundations, and professional societies whose mission includes public health education
  • Providers of medical or scientific education
  • Hospitals and academic institutions whose mission includes public health education
  • Other qualified entities that engage in public health education and that may be approved on a case-by-case basis

Prohibited Organizations

  • Any individual
  • Any physician or physician practice or group or affiliate thereof
  • Applicants who have received past grant funding and have not provided required budget reconciliation or have not returned unused funds for a program
  • Debarred institutions or groups, including organizations or their employees on probation with the ACCME, or on the OIG exclusion list; faculty debarred from a federal healthcare program or on the OIG exclusion list

Forms & Document Requirements


  • Grant Request Form (downloadable)
  • W-9 (downloadable)
  • Cover letter to include:
    • Description of Activity or Initiative
    • Overview of learning objectives
    • Delivery format
    • Amount of Request
  • Budget for program/project
    • Detailed line-item budget for the entire program
  • Needs assessment summary (if CME event)
  • Learning objectives for program/project
  • Agenda for program/project
  • Letter of Agreement (if grant is approved)
  • Reconciliation Report due 60 days after event, if grant is approved

If your request is for $25,000 or more then you will also be required to submit:

  • Comprehensive Needs Assessment
  • Detailed learning objectives that explain how the program will satisfy the stated need
  • Implementation Plan
  • Project Status (if grant is approved, large or enduring CME activities should include updates on proposed implementation timelines, updates on major milestones such as announcement mailings, faculty recruitment, updates in content development or site locations and for web based projects design update and testing status.)

Submission


The grant funding process is very competitive: we receive more grants that we can accommodate; we regret this, but your request will receive a fair review. Prior to submitting please review your request to ensure that it fits within our guidelines and therapeutic focus.

  • Grants should be received at least 60 days prior to event to insure adequate time for review and processing
  • Submit complete grants documentation to the Valeant Grants Office (VGO) via:
    • Email: VGO@Valeant.com
    • Mail: Valeant Pharmaceuticals
      Valeant Grant Office
      ATTN: Grants Coordinator
      One Enterprise
      Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Grant flow

  • Within a few days of receipt of a complete grant package, an acknowledgement letter with a grant tracking number will be emailed. It is important for all future communication to know the tracking number assigned. (In accordance with OIG guidelines, sales representatives and marketing contacts will not have access to this information.)
  • Any questions or concerns regarding the status of your request should be directed to the Grants Coordinator at VGO@Valeant.com
  • Review of your grant submission by the Grants Review Committee will be completed within 90 days after receipt of a complete grants package
  • A second letter advising ability or inability to support and the amount approved will be issued within a week or so after the Grant Review Committee has met
  • Please do not consider any request approved until you have received written documentation from the grant coordinator.
  • A letter of agreement will be issued once the grant is approved.
  • Upon receipt of an executed letter of agreement payment instructions will be sent to our A/P department for processing
  • All approved grants must submit a Follow up Report within 60 days after the event
  • All multiyear or enduring CME Grants over $50,000.00 need to submit updates