Rebecca Goldstein applies similar problem-solving and pattern-finding skills to immuno-oncology drug discovery that she uses to create crossword puzzles in her spare time
July 22, 2026
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Rebecca Goldstein is an accomplished crossword puzzle creator, but her most challenging puzzle is the one she’s dedicated her career to solving: how to cure cancer. Working in drug discovery, Goldstein, Ph.D., finds that her passions for tackling diseases and creating crossword puzzles reveal surprising parallels.
“While seemingly significantly different, they both require ingenuity, agility and strategic critical-thinking and problem-solving skills,” said Goldstein, senior principal scientist at Merck.
She began creating crosswords in 2020 during the pandemic when her wife suggested she find a hobby. Since then, Goldstein’s published more than 300 crosswords, including in The New York Times, where she’s created nine (and counting) Sunday puzzles.
“It’s really satisfying when things make sense. In both science and crosswords, I’m trying to find those ‘aha moments,’ those times when things really come together,” said Goldstein.
“We’re trying to identify the target — a specific protein on a cancer cell — and then develop a drug-like molecule to hit that target and stop the cancer’s progression,” said Goldstein.
And while designing a crossword is much quicker, she sees similarities in the process.
Finding the patterns
For Goldstein, both science and crossword puzzles begin with pattern recognition.
“When creating a crossword, I first work on a theme, which involves looking for patterns that could connect a series of answers,” she said. “In the lab, I’m also looking for patterns — for example, how and where proteins are expressed on cells and tissues. We’ll then screen hundreds of molecular candidates to find the one that we think will hit the target best. It’s similar to sifting through hundreds of words to identify which ones fit my crossword theme.”
Iteration and refinement drive progress
Iteration is central to both pursuits for Goldstein. In research, that may mean adjusting molecules based on results of experiments. In crosswords, it means determining where to put each word, the best placement for the black squares and how to formulate a layout that makes the puzzle fun and challenging.
“At the end of the day, I want solvers to enjoy it, to feel accomplished and that their time was well spent,” Goldstein said.
Putting patients first
In the lab, Goldstein always puts patients first. It’s a mindset that was deeply embedded early in her career when some of the first molecules she helped discover proceeded to clinical trials.
“It’s humbling to realize that something you worked on has the potential to help people,” Goldstein said. “Clinical trial participants are making an important contribution for science. As scientists, we need to approach this work with a careful eye and be very good at what we do.”
Collaboration strengthens ideas and outcomes
This includes collaboration, as breakthroughs rarely happen alone.
“Having other minds and perspectives can really elevate an idea,” said Goldstein. “People have different backgrounds and areas of expertise, which are helpful in running the best experiments with the best controls.”
She said the same is true even when she has a solo crossword byline: “I’ll ask one of my fellow crossword creators questions similar to those we ask in the lab, ‘Hey, does this make sense to you? Am I stretching too far? Does it really work?’”
When it clicks: breakthrough moments
Although it takes a lot of work to get there, Goldstein savors the moment when everything suddenly comes together.
She recalls one of those times in the lab when data from multiple teams aligned: “We took the totality of the data and everything lined up. The whole thing just made beautiful sense. It was like a perfect study.”
Goldstein said crossword inspiration comes from similar “aha moments” in her everyday life — in conversation, in TV dialogue, at work and even in solving other crosswords. She builds on the moment to create a puzzle that appeals to the widest audience.
“I want to open the tent and make room for more people to come in and enjoy the puzzle — the more likely people are to find something that represents them or that they can relate to, I’m all for it,” said Goldstein.
And, in case you’re wondering, Goldstein is also an impressive crossword puzzle solver. Her personal best on a Sunday New York Times crossword is under six minutes (5:21, to be exact)!
When crosswords meet chemistry
Goldstein sometimes weaves scientific themes or words into her crosswords. In fact, the theme of her first ever New York Times puzzle was “salt shaker” and included rebuses — a word or group of letters written inside a single square — of anagrams of NaCl, the chemical name for salt.
Check out some of her latest New York Times puzzles, published June 9, June 28 and July 22.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of certain types of cervical cancer and other cancers in men and women
July 10, 2026
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What is human papillomavirus (HPV)?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the U.S. There are many different types of HPV.
For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for the very few who do not clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and other diseases in both men and women. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know who will or will not clear the virus.
What cancers and diseases can be caused by HPV?
HPV can cause certain types of:
cervical cancers
anal cancers
vulvar cancers
vaginal cancers
head and neck cancers
genital warts
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2018 and 2022, tens of thousands of people in the U.S. were diagnosed with certain HPV-related cancers each year.
The impact of HPV-related cancers
Between 2018 and 2022, CDC estimates:
60-70%
of all oropharyngeal cancer (found in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils) may be caused by HPV
~12,300
new HPV-related cervical cancer cases occur in the U.S. each year
“There are steps people can take to be proactive about their health. Men and women should speak with their health care providers to learn more about the link between HPV and certain cancers and diseases.”
— Mel Kohn, M.D., MPH, executive director of medical affairs, Merck
The World Health Organization’s movement towards cervical cancer elimination
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women globally. Important steps have been taken to achieve a world where fewer women are affected by cervical cancer, but more needs to be done.
In 2020, the World Health Assembly adopted the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem.
To help achieve this goal, the WHO provides guidance and tools to support countries in implementing strategies and addressing challenges associated with cervical cancer prevention.
For more information about HPV, certain HPV-related cancers and potential preventive measures, men and women should speak with their health care providers.
Learn more about what the measles virus is and how measles spreads
July 1, 2026
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What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect people of all ages but is most common in children. The virus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat of an infected person.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus.
Common measles symptoms include:
High fever
(may spike to more than 104°F)
Cough
Runny nose
Red watery eyes
(7-14 days after contact with the virus)
Tiny white spots in mouth
(2-3 days after symptoms begin)
Rash
(3-5 days after symptoms begin)
How measles spreads
Is measles airborne?
The measles virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area.
How contagious is measles?
If one person has measles, up to 90% of
unvaccinated people close to that person will also become infected.
How long is measles contagious for?
Infected people can spread measles to others four days before through four days after the rash appears.
How long is the measles incubation period?
After a person is exposed, the measles virus can incubate for up to 11-12 days. An incubation period is how long it takes for you to develop symptoms after exposure to an infectious disease.
Does measles cause complications?
Measles can cause health complications. Common complications include ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). Measles may impact the daily lives of patients and their caretakers (e.g., can result in lost work time or missed school days).
Measles can be serious and lead to complications
About 1 in 5unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles are hospitalized.
As many as 1 out of every 20 children with measles get pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
Approximately1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
Understanding measles outbreaks
Before the vaccine became available in 1963, an estimated 3 to 4 million Americans contracted measles each year; an estimated 48,000 people in the U.S. were hospitalized and there were approximately 400 to 500 deaths annually.
When you’re contagious with measles, up to 90% of the people around you who are not vaccinated will also become infected.
In the U.S., measles cases can originate from international travel as the disease remains common in many parts of the world. Typically, 2 out of 3 of travelers with measles are unvaccinated Americans re-entering the country.
As seen by the recent outbreaks across the country, measles can spread rapidly, and infected individuals can spread measles to other people who are not immune.
For more information, including the latest statistics on outbreaks, speak with your doctor or visit the CDC website.
From patient to advocate: Cris Regent’s LDL-C story
A personal wake-up call inspired a Merck employee to advocate for bad cholesterol awareness
June 29, 2026
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Cris Regent (r) and former Atlanta Braves catcher Javy López (l) throw the first pitch at Truist Park on May 14.
For Cris Regent, associate vice president, U.S. pharma cardiovascular and metabolic at Merck, the fight against high bad cholesterol is deeply personal. Despite eating well and exercising regularly, a few years ago, Regent discovered his low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) — otherwise known as bad cholesterol — had been climbing higher. High bad cholesterol is a major contributor to plaque (bad cholesterol, fats and other substances) buildup in the arteries, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and each year, it’s estimated that more than 800,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack.
“I thought I was managing my risk — until I wasn’t,” Regent said. Motivated by a family history of heart conditions, Regent spoke with his doctor. They moved beyond simple lifestyle changes to a comprehensive management plan to hit his LDL-C goals.
Now, Regent is turning his experience into advocacy through Playing with Heart, a collaboration between Merck, nine professional baseball teams, former professional baseball legends and WomenHeart, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of adults with or at risk of heart disease. During the 2026 baseball season, the Playing with Heart program will feature a lineup of baseball legends, clubs and ambassadors who will share their personal stories about high bad cholesterol. Playing with Heart will educate adult baseball fans about the risks of high bad cholesterol and the importance of talking to your doctor about your bad cholesterol number.
“Baseball is America’s favorite pastime; you grow up with these players, you see them on TV, and there is this relationship that you build with them,” Regent said. “When you hear these players speak, you stop and you listen. We’re reaching people through players they respect and want to listen to.”
Baseball has shaped Regent’s life since his early years. As a kid, he spent each season cheering for the New York Yankees during every game before taking the field himself as the catcher for his high school baseball team. When his son played Little League, Regent was the coach of his son’s team, passing his love of baseball to the next generation.
And while the Yankees will always have a special place in his heart, he now cheers on the Phillies. But no matter who wins the World Series, he’ll be happy that this season his personal experience helped fans learn that adults can be vulnerable to the risks associated with high bad cholesterol.
Talk to your doctor to learn more about your bad cholesterol number. For more information, visit PlayingWithHeart.com.
How Merck is helping advance research with new approaches for people living with these challenging conditions
June 10, 2026
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Blood cancers develop when changes in DNA cause blood‑forming cells to grow abnormally. Instead of producing healthy blood cells that support the immune system and carry oxygen through the body, these altered cells multiply in an uncontrolled way. Over time, this can weaken the immune system and make it harder for the body to fight infection and perform essential functions.
Types of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
The most common types of blood cancer are leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Together, they account for the majority of hematologic malignancies, with more than 190,000 new cases projected each year in the U.S.
Leukemia forms in the blood and bone marrow and is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. There are several types of leukemia, which include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia.
Lymphoma develops in the lymphatic system, a network of organs, vessels and tissues that helps protect the body from infection. It is often classified as either Hodgkin lymphoma or non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, depending on the type of lymphocyte involved and specific cellular features.
Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, forms in plasma cells found in the bone marrow. Unlike cancers that first appear in one location, myeloma can occur in multiple areas of the bone marrow at the same time.
Rare blood cancers: myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
In addition to the previously listed more common blood cancers, there are rarer related blood cancers, such as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). About 20,000 new cases of MPNs and MDS are diagnosed each year in the U.S. MPNs occur when the bone marrow produces too many blood cells, while MDS develops when blood cells do not mature properly and are unable to become healthy cells. The main types of MPNs include essential thrombocythemia, primary myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera.
As the number of people affected by blood cancers and disorders continues to rise, scientists at Merck are exploring innovative strategies aimed at improving outcomes for patients living with these complex and challenging conditions. These approaches focus on enhancing the body’s response to cancer, targeting cancer cells more precisely and addressing pathways that drive cancer growth.
Merck is currently investigating several potential targets for hematologic malignancies across a broad range of different disease pathways, including:
3-D depiction of ROR1 protein on a malignant B-cell
Targeting ROR1, a protein that is overexpressed in multiple hematologic malignancies
3-D depiction of BTK and PLCy2 in the BCR signaling pathway
Evaluating the inhibition of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase to address common mechanisms of resistance for patients with certain hematologic malignancies
3-D depiction of LSD1 and transcription factors ahead of histone modification
Targeting lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), an enzyme that is potentially important for regulating the rapid reproduction of blood stem cells and the maturation of blood cells in the bone marrow
3-D depiction of BCR protein complex
Evaluating the role of the BCR::ABL novel protein in preventing white blood cells from proliferating
3-D depiction of T-cell with TCR complex and B-cell tumor cell with CD19 protein
Researching T-cell engagement for certain types of leukemia and lymphoma
“Our team is building on our legacy in oncology to understand how various mechanisms and modalities could address blood cancers in innovative ways,” said Dr. Shweta Jain, vice president, oncology clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories.
“By exploring multiple potential novel mechanisms of action across a broad range of blood cancers and disorders, we hope to help address longstanding unmet needs for patients with hematologic malignancies.”
Dr. Shweta Jain
Through ongoing studies and clinical trials, Merck is working to advance clinical research for patients living with blood cancers and disorders. Learn more about Merck’s hematology research and clinical trials.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): A personal journey
A mom’s personal story of support, community and care after her TNBC diagnosis
June 10, 2026
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In 2020, Jonell Deshotel was balancing school, motherhood and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic when she noticed a lump on the side of her breast. After years of watching her own mother’s experience with breast cancer, she knew she needed to act quickly.
She went to see her doctor and received news that changed everything for her: Deshotel was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer or TNBC.
“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. I remember her saying, ‘I have breast cancer, but I will get through this, and we will get through this together.’ Once I received my own diagnosis, I knew that I wanted to embody that strength with my own daughter.”
Jonell Deshotel
There are many different types of breast cancer — defined by where it starts in the breast, how much it has grown and how it behaves. One of the more aggressive types is TNBC.
What is TNBC?
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S. But not all breast cancers are the same.
Breast cancer tumors may be tested for three receptors, or proteins, that can influence tumor behavior and may help guide treatment decisions. A TNBC diagnosis is made when the tumor tests negative for all three receptors — estrogen, progesterone and HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2). HER2 is a protein that tells breast cells to grow.
TNBC differs from other types of invasive breast cancer as it tends to grow and spread faster, often with a worse prognosis for patients. It also has a high likelihood of recurrence.
Who’s at risk of developing TNBC?
Approximately 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their life, and roughly 10-15% of these diagnoses are TNBC.
While TNBC can affect anyone, it’s more common in people who are younger than age 40, Black or have certain gene mutations.
Factors that make someone more likely to be diagnosed with TNBC include:
Sex: People assigned female at birth are at higher risk for TNBC compared to people assigned male at birth.
Race/ethnicity: TNBC disproportionately affects Black women compared to white women. Nearly 20% of breast cancers diagnosed in Black women are TNBC.
Age: TNBC is more common in women younger than 40.
Genetic mutations: Mutations in certain genes are associated with TNBC.
What are the signs and symptoms of TNBC?
TNBC may have similar signs and symptoms to other common types of breast cancer, though some people with TNBC may have no symptoms at all.
Possible signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:
A new breast lump or mass
Swelling of all or part of a breast
Skin dimpling
Breast or nipple pain
Nipple retraction
Nipple or breast skin that’s red, dry, flaking or thickened
Nipple discharge
Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone
Treatment, support and community after a TNBC diagnosis
Deshotel underwent more than 10 rounds of treatment along with intensive surgery.
Still, she says support made all the difference. “When I was first diagnosed, it was so important for me to do the research to find women who were young, who were of color and that (were) going through the same experiences that I might have been going through,” she said.
That search led her to a community she describes as her village. “I would not be talking to you today without our village. My friends would take me to my chemotherapy treatments, prepare food for me, and stayed by my side,” she said.
Their care and support helped Deshotel through her hardest days. It also shaped how she sees her future as a mother and advocate, because of her family’s multi-generational journey with breast cancer.
Today, she focuses on being healthy to be there for her daughters Payton and Journie Adele, named after her mother and their journeys with breast cancer.
Stories like Deshotel’s remind us why patients are at the heart of our efforts in cancer care. Her journey is a reminder to listen to your body, get checked when something feels wrong and lean on the people around you.
“One of my favorite gifts that I received from my village was my signature umbrella. It’s a symbol of hope, joy, celebration with resilience,” she said. “Together, we are strong.”
Merck’s One Pipeline strategy: Purpose, patients and big bets on science
Our approach to drug development aims to bring together our own innovation with the best external science so we can more quickly help patients who are counting on us
June 8, 2026
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At Merck, progressing novel medicines and vaccines through our pipeline means making purposeful, long-term bets on bold science — wherever it originates. We take a science-first, therapeutic-agnostic approach, evaluating where strong science, clear patient impact and long-term value come together to deliver differentiated approaches for patients.
Pursuing science at this global scale across modalities and stages of development goes beyond our company’s internal discovery alone. Through our One Pipeline approach, our team combines our deep internal research capabilities with disciplined business development and licensing efforts to identify, evaluate and invest in the most promising external science. We apply a deliberate, long-term lens to business development — making investments that align with who we are as a company and the role we play in improving global health.
What is Merck’s One Pipeline strategy?
One Pipeline is our unified research and drug development strategy — bringing together internal discovery and external innovation to ensure we advance high-potential science.
We engage across the innovation ecosystem spanning academia to biotech and established biopharma. From early-stage engagements and venture investments to licensing and late-stage research collaborations and acquisitions, our One Pipeline approach enables us to establish a diverse portfolio, regardless of origin or therapeutic area.
Research and collaboration enable our One Pipeline approach
“Our One Pipeline strategy starts with a simple question: where do we see the greatest scientific potential, and how can we advance it for patients?” said Dr. Dean Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories (MRL). “We evaluate opportunities without bias, applying the same rigor and urgency to advance the strongest ideas wherever they come from.”
To achieve this, MRL works in lockstep with our business development and licensing (BD&L) team. “I want to emphasize how integrated BD&L is with MRL. This is hand in glove,” Li said.
How business development augments our pipeline
As one of the industry’s top investors in research and development, Merck’s scientific external innovation strategy is fueled by significant investment and disciplined decision-making and business development activity. We have a legacy of successful collaborations and are among the most active dealmakers in the biopharma industry.
Since 2021, we’ve invested over $65 billion into business development, spanning a wide range of technologies, capabilities and candidates across multiple therapeutic areas and phases of development. This sustained breadth of investment reflects our focused, science-driven approach to identifying and pursuing external innovation to strengthen and expand our pipeline.
Collaborations are critical to advancing breakthrough science
Central to our One Pipeline strategy is our philosophy of matching internal scientific rigor with strategic external investment.
“Everything here starts with scientific conviction,” said Sunil Patel, senior vice president and head of corporate development and business development and licensing. “Whether we’re advancing internal programs or collaborating externally, we focus on high-quality science — even when the path is challenging — because that’s how we deliver real-world impact for patients and society.”
Creating a sustainable innovation engine
After each business development deal, we work to ensure the external science effectively transitions into our pipeline and portfolio. By applying our clinical, regulatory and manufacturing expertise, we work to accelerate each program with speed and rigor — supporting a steady flow of novel candidates for patients depending on us to deliver the next breakthrough.
“Business development is core to our growth strategy,” said Rob Davis, chairman and chief executive officer. “At Merck, we are committed to delivering on our purpose to save and improve lives and continue to identify and secure opportunities where compelling science and value creation align.”
Where is Merck’s business development and licensing team located?
Recognizing that innovation can happen anywhere, the BD&L team scours the globe to bring in transformative science and leading‑edge technologies. They work alongside scientists within our research network and are strategically located in epicenters of innovation, including:
How scientists are harnessing the specific mutations of each person’s cancer to evaluate therapies that would be tailored to their own tumor
May 20, 2026
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Over the past decade, immunotherapy has transformed our understanding of how the immune system can be used to help fight certain types of cancer. As the treatment of cancer continues to evolve, researchers are focusing on more individualized approaches.
This includes a new area of research into individualized neoantigen therapies, which leverage information from a patient’s tumor biopsy to help develop a therapy tailored to that person’s tumor mutations.
To help improve outcomes for people living with cancer, our scientists, in collaboration with Moderna, are exploring this innovative approach designed to train the immune system to recognize and fight cancer.
What makes each person’s cancer different — and why does it matter?
Cancer develops when the body’s own cells undergo mutations that create abnormal proteins in cancer cells, known as neoantigens. These mutations are not found in normal cells and are specific to each person’s tumor. That helps explain why people diagnosed with the same type of cancer — and treated in similar ways — could respond differently.
What if the immune system can be trained to recognize each person’s cancer?
To explore the idea of one medicine for one patient, we’re evaluating individualized neoantigen therapies as a potential way to help train the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells unique to each individual.
Merck scientists, with colleagues at Moderna, are studying this approach to deepen our understanding of how mutations vary across different cancers — insights that could help advance more personalized approaches to cancer care.
How are individualized neoantigen therapies designed to work?
To predict each patient’s mix of neoantigens, or tumor mutations, scientists analyze the genetic code of a person’s tumor cells.
The analysis helps predict which neoantigens are most likely to appear on the surface of cancer cells and which may be the most promising targets for a personalized therapy.
This tailoring could potentially allow an individualized neoantigen therapy to effectively train the immune system to find and kill specific cancer cells.
Because healthy cells don’t have cancer neoantigens on their surface, this approach may also help avoid harming healthy tissue.
“Building on our past learnings from cancer trials involving the immune system, we’re investigating a new approach to individualized cancer care based on each patient’s specific tumor mutations. No two individualized neoantigen therapies will be alike, because no two cancers are the same.”
Dr. Vassiliki Karantza AVP, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories
Clinical studies are ongoing to explore the safety and effectiveness of individualized neoantigen therapies when combined with other cancer treatments. There are currently no U.S. FDA-approved individualized neoantigen therapies.
Millions of women around the world are diagnosed with cancer every year. Breast, cervical, ovarian and endometrial cancers accounted for nearly one in five new cancer cases and 1.3 million deaths globally in 2022. Research suggests that some of the deaths from these cancers may be avoided through a combination of effective public health policies, earlier detection and timely medical care.
At Merck, we recognize the importance of working with organizations committed to closing gaps in care for people who need it most. That’s why we’re expanding our partnership with City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) with a five-year, $10 million investment to improve cancer care for women in 15 cities around the world through community-led collaboration.
What is City Cancer Challenge?
C/Can is an international non‑profit organization that brings together public and private partners at the city level to design, plan and implement practical solutions to help address gaps in cancer care. The organization leverages the unique value of cities as enablers in a health system’s response to cancer. C/Can works with municipal leaders, health authorities, clinicians and patient groups in cities across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), reaching over 764,000 patients with opportunities for improved quality of care.
Supporting the Thriving Cities, Healthy Women initiative
Merck has been a partner of C/Can since the organization’s founding in 2019. Building on this work, we’re investing in its new “Thriving Cities, Healthy Women” initiative to help close gaps in access to cancer screening and care for women in LMICs across Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.
“Too many women are diagnosed too late, receive care too late or never receive care at all. That’s not inevitable — it’s fixable. Prioritizing women and health does not only benefit women and their families, it can also be a powerful lever for stronger health systems, economic resilience and social progress.”
Isabel Mestres CEO, City Cancer Challenge
By 2030, the partnership aims to:
Reach
>300K
Reach more than 300,000 women with cancer through improved access to care
Train
>2K
Train more than 2,000 health professionals through capacity building and mentorship
Benefit
>11M
Benefit more than 11 million women through influencing policy, replication and scale-up of patient initiatives
“People should be able to access timely cancer care — no matter where they live. By partnering with City Cancer Challenge, we’re working city by city to strengthen local systems so more women can be diagnosed earlier and get the care they need close to home.”
Kalahn Taylor‑Clark, Ph.D., MPH Vice president and head of social impact and sustainability, Merck
How we’re closing the cancer care gap
Women often navigate cancer with unique responsibilities and pressures. Socioeconomic barriers, geography, caregiving demands and other factors can stand in the way of early detection and timely diagnosis. In many settings, women experience delayed referrals, unclear diagnostic pathways and long waits to access care — all of which may lead to worse outcomes.
“By investing in the health of women, we invest in stronger families, resilient communities and more productive societies.”
Jenelle Krishnamoorthy, Ph.D. Senior vice president and head of global policy and public affairs, Merck
Through our partnership with C/Can, participating cities will work toward measurable, sustainable improvements in women’s cancer care to:
Expand access to screening, as early detection may impact outcomes
Reduce the time from suspicion of cancer to confirmed diagnosis or rule-out
Increase the number of women initiating cancer care plans soon after diagnosis
Merck for Mothers: Expanding access to quality maternal care
More than a decade of strategic partnerships, private sector innovation and data-driven impact are helping create a world where no woman has to die while giving life
May 11, 2026
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According to the latest available data from 2023 from the World Health Organization, a maternal death occurs almost every two minutes. Nearly 95% of all maternal deaths occur in low- and lower-middle income countries, and most could have been prevented.
If we don’t do more, mothers, daughters and granddaughters will continue to lose their lives. And their loss will impact many.
The birth of Merck for Mothers
In response to this crisis, our company created Merck for Mothers, a global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life.
“By helping address one of the oldest and most preventable global health tragedies, we believe Merck for Mothers will have an important impact on society,” said Ken Frazier, Merck’s then-chairman and CEO, as he introduced this program at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2011.
Merck for Mothers began its mission by joining the UN and collaborators around the globe to apply its scientific and business expertise to help save women’s lives, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 births by 2030. Achieving this goal would save the lives of approximately 1.4 million women between 2016 and 2030.
A sustainable model to make a difference for generations
Focused on advancing high-quality maternity care, harnessing innovations for maternal health and catalyzing solutions that respond to local needs, Merck for Mothers aims to make a difference for women, families and their communities now and in the future.
Women around the world die during pregnancy and childbirth for a variety of reasons, including a lack of medical supplies or inadequate health care services to address complications. Other times, it’s due to delays in seeking care or difficulties getting to a medical facility. Sometimes, women can’t afford to pay for health services. And often, women do not have information about the warning signs of potential complications or access to contraceptives to help them make their own decisions about whether or not to become pregnant.
Merck for Mothers takes a holistic approach to addressing the many factors that impact maternal health. It collaborates across sectors — working with governments, nongovernmental organizations, patient groups, professional associations, entrepreneurs, UN agencies, research institutions, businesses and even other pharmaceutical companies. The initiative also supports innovations across digital, finance, products and policy, and strives to leverage the private sector for public good. Engaging local stakeholders in designing, implementing and evaluating solutions plays an important role in creating sustainable improvements.
"We believe investing in maternal health care is a pathway to better health and stronger health systems for all."
Jacquelyn Caglia
Head of Merck for Mothers
“Working closely with our collaborators, we’re taking a holisitic approach to address the factors that impact maternal health, reflecting our company’s commitment to expanding access to health around the world,” said Jacquelyn Caglia, head of Merck for Mothers. “The impact we’ve made reflects our team’s dedication and the incredible efforts of community-based organizations globally. There’s still much to be done, which is why we’re focused on building on our learnings and scaling our impact.”
Making an impact and the ripple effect
Merck for Mothers has supported 295 programs alongside 210 grantees and collaborators across 75 global sites to find, test, scale and sustain solutions to reduce maternal mortality.
167M+
More than 167 million people impacted with access to strengthened health systems
39M+
More than 39 million people reached through programs supporting safe, high quality, respectful care
952K+
More than 952,000 providers with improved training
“Behind every number is a person reached via Merck for Mothers who had a safer pregnancy, a healthier birth or access to care she might not otherwise have received. That’s what drives us,” said Kalahn Taylor-Clark, vice president and head of social impact and sustainability, Merck.
And, research shows that investing in maternal health can have a ripple effect. Better maternal health care is a pathway to a lifetime of benefits, both for a woman’s own health and prosperity as well as that of her children, family, community and nation.
Infants are 15 times more likely to survive
Children are 10 times more likely to finish school
Millions of dollars are contributed by women to the economy
“When we invest in maternal health, the benefits ripple far beyond the delivery room. Women’s health is prioritized, newborns are more likely to survive, children are more likely to stay in school and women make invaluable contributions to their communities and the workforce. Health systems get stronger. Economies grow. We call this the ‘Mom Effect’,” said Taylor-Clark.
And, that’s an important impact on society for generations to come.
Merck for Mothers and PATH collaborate to identify game-changing technologies
Spearheaded by top scientists from Merck for Mothers and the global nonprofit, PATH, this unique alliance evaluated promising technologies that address the two leading causes of maternal mortality — post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) and preeclampsia — as well as family planning. This collaboration surfaced the ideas of focusing on a heat-stable uterotonic (carbetocin) to address excessive bleeding during childbirth and optimizing magnesium sulfate administration for pregnant women with preeclampsia – two initiatives that we continue to fund today.
2012
Merck for Mothers joins new global partnership — Saving Mothers, Giving Life
This public-private partnership focuses on helping mothers during labor, delivery and the first 24 hours following birth, when an estimated two-thirds of maternal deaths and almost half of infant deaths occur. With a pledge of more than $200 million, the partnership began with programs in Uganda and Zambia, where maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high.
2013
Merck for Mothers launches $10 million initiative in India
This initiative to improve access to maternal health services will reach nearly 500,000 pregnant women in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand — all areas with high rates of maternal deaths.
Global health, development and business leaders announce new innovative financing partnership
This partnership leverages private sector funding to speed up delivery and access to life-saving health supplies, such as contraceptives, bed nets, and medicines to those in need. Through Pledge Guarantee for Health (PGH), this new financing mechanism helps increase the impact of each dollar of donor funding and ultimately improve health care access and outcomes for the millions who are helped by foreign aid.
Through the partnership, Merck and other private sector suppliers step up to provide up-front price discounts to aid recipients who utilize PGH to purchase their life-saving health supplies.
Merck for Mothers launches programs in the U.S.
The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 1990. More than 50,000 women a year — one every 10 minutes — nearly die from severe complications they experience during pregnancy or childbirth. With an initial commitment of $6 million, these programs aim to enhance community care initiatives for high-risk women before, during and after childbirth; implement standard approaches to address obstetric emergencies; and strengthen data collection and reviews to better understand why maternal deaths occur and how to improve practices and patient care.
2014
Merck, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and WHO announce collaboration to prevent excessive bleeding in women after childbirth
Merck, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and WHO collaborate to advance a new, proprietary formulation of carbetocin to prevent excessive bleeding in women after childbirth. A primary benefit of carbetocin is its ability to remain stable at room temperature, even in hot and tropical climates, unlike oxytocin, the standard medicine administered for the prevention of PPH. Oxytocin is temperature-sensitive and requires sustained cold distribution and storage, which is difficult to achieve in many of these areas of high maternal mortality.
2015
Merck for Mothers explores digital technologies to mobilize maternal health
Merck for Mothers commits resources to invent or enhance existing solutions to tackle some of the most critical obstacles standing in the way of delivering quality maternity care and contraceptive services in low- and middle-income countries. This commitment leads to a new wave of smart, innovative apps and digital platforms – like the Safe Delivery App, mDoc, Project iDeliver, AskNivi, MomCare, Together for Her Health, among others.
Merck and Merck for Mothers help advance a new set of UN global goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are formally adopted at the 70th UNGA. They represent the international community’s aspirations for improving the lives of the world’s poorest people by 2030.
Merck for Mothers has now reached 5 million women worldwide through its programs
2016
Employees across the globe join the fight to end maternal mortality
Employee volunteers participate in activities such as assembling post-natal kits for soon-to-be mothers in Uganda as a means of encouraging them to seek care to support healthy pregnancies and deliveries. The kits include essential supplies to aid the health and safety of a mother and newborn after birth. This activity, among others, become annual events where employees can help amplify our impact.
Merck for Mothers’ collaborators complete their first maternity waiting home in Zambia
Maternity waiting homes — residences located near health facilities where pregnant women can stay before they go into labor — can make all the difference for pregnant women in rural Zambia, where the distance between home and a health facility can be a matter of life and death.
2017
Merck for Mothers teams up with stakeholders across India to launch Manyata
Merck for Mothers, Jhpiego India and the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India partnered to launch Manyata – an ambitious agenda to improve quality of maternity and newborn care services in private facilities by training doctors, nursing and administrative staff on essential clinical, facility and patient care protocols in India.
Merck for Mothers commits $10 million and business expertise to the Global Financing Facility
In support of the UN Secretary-General’s Every Woman Every Child strategy to improve maternal and child health in low- and lower-middle-income countries, the goal is to prevent an estimated 3.8 million maternal deaths, 101 million child deaths and 21 million stillbirths by 2030. Merck is the first private sector investor and helped bring other private sector investors to the table.
Merck for Mothers launches the world’s first maternal and newborn health development bond with public and private sector collaborators
The UtkrishtDevelopment Impact Bond leverages private investor capital to incentivize private maternity providers in Rajasthan, India to improve the quality of care they deliver. Interventions will reach up to 600,000 pregnant women with improved care during delivery and could lead up to 10,000 lives being saved over a five-year period.
2018
Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Merck announce completion of carbetocin clinical trial, the largest clinical trial ever conducted in postpartum hemorrhage
The trial of heat-stable carbetocin showed it to be as safe and effective as oxytocin in preventing postpartum hemorrhage, the largest direct cause of maternal death. The trial included nearly 30,000 women from 10 countries.
“This has the potential to change the paradigm in how we save more mothers from dying during childbirth,” said Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, Merck’s then-chief patient officer.
Merck announces new U.S. initiative — Safer Childbirth Cities
Through this initiative, Merck for Mothers will provide grants to help cities with poor maternal health outcomes develop and implement creative, multi-sector solutions to save women’s lives and improve maternal health.
Merck for Mothers publishes first research compendium to advance collective understanding of maternal mortality
The research compendium, Evidence for Impact, collates actionable and real-time evidence about what works and what doesn’t to expand knowledge that will help encourage greater investment in women’s health. Merck for Mothers publishes a second compendium in 2020.
2019
Merck for Mothers has now reached 10 million women worldwide through its programs
The MOMs (Maternal Outcomes Matters) Initiative launched
A partnership between Merck for Mothers, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Credit Suisse and USAID to stimulate, advance and scale innovations that contribute to a healthy pregnancy and safe childbirth. It will invest $50M in local businesses that are working to improve maternal health in regions of the world where high rates of women are dying from pregnancy and childbirth. (Photo credit: LifeBank)
2020
Merck for Mothers provides funding to help support the CDC’s new maternal health communication campaign, Hear Her
Hear Her brings attention to maternal mortality and provides support to pregnant and postpartum women to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
Merck commits $3M to address maternal health needs during COVID-19 pandemic
2021
Merck announces fifth round of global grants to tackle maternal mortality and access to health worldwide
Merck for Mothers supports the corporate grant program which enables Merck offices around the world to aid nongovernmental organizations that are improving maternal health. The program responds to local women’s needs, focusing on how resources can increase health equity in maternity care and support.
Merck announces additional $150M investment through 2025 to help end maternal mortality inequities, building on the $500M commitment made in 2011
This investment comes at a pivotal time for the global health community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to stretch health systems, disrupting networks of care that support healthy pregnancies and safe childbirth.
2022
Merck for Mothers launches Strengthening Systems for Safer Childbirth Coalitions
This global initiative is supporting locally driven solutions with coalitions across India, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The coalitions lead activities to improve access to high-quality maternal health care.
Merck for Mothers debuts new report examining how transformational impact can be made in maternal health
The report highlights six social investments whose solutions have demonstrated transformational impact on maternal health in different contexts — each with funding from Merck for Mothers. Learn more about the report.
Merck for Mothers supports organizations in Latin America
With a sixth round of global grants, Merck for Mothers supports organizations in Latin America, where wide disparities in maternal health outcomes persist. Through the grants, we aim to reach 135,000 women throughout Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Mexico.
Merck for Mothers has reached more than 30 million women around the world
Through programs promoting safe, high-quality, respectful care, Merck for Mothers has now reached more than 30 million women, surpassing its goal of reaching 25 million women by 2025. Learn more
New grants help women in southeastern Europe
Latest round of global grants supports UNICEF through innovative projects designed to meet the unique local needs of women in Bulgaria and Serbia. Learn more
2025
Expanding community-led solutions across the United States
Merck for Mothers published a four-part article series published in Health Affairs — Healthy Mothers, Healthy Futures: Improving Maternal Health in America — spotlighting the systemic challenges and proven solutions driving change across the country.
Five years of the Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity
Merck for Mothers marked the occasion by honoring organizations making extraordinary contributions to maternal health equity. Learn more
Improving maternal health across Asia
New report highlights strides that have been made in maternal health across Asia Pacific, China and Japan. Learn more
2026
New grants advance community-led maternal health solutions
As part of our company’s social impact strategy, Merck for Mothers announced a new round of grants supporting community-led maternal health solutions in communities where access to quality care remains most limited. Learn more
New report highlights impact of strengthening systems for safer childbirth
A new report detailed how six community-led coalitions across India, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone expanded access to quality maternal health services for more than 2.7 million people. Learn more
We believe solutions to end maternal mortality and improve the quality of maternity care should be rooted in women’s voices and experiences
Strategic partnerships, private sector innovation and data-driven impact
Our work continues in order to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life
Are you passionate about building a meaningful career? Come invent with us!
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