The United Negro College Fund, Inc. and the The Merck Institute For Science Education Research Laboratories have established scholarship awards for outstanding African American students pursuing studies and careers in the field of biomedical research. At least 37 awards will be given annually-15 at the undergraduate level, 12 at the graduate level and 10 at the postdoctoral level.

The program also provides for institutional support through grants to the science departments of award recipients.

The UNCF-Merck Science Initiative is dedicated to supporting the training and development of world-class African American biomedical scientists to achieve the complementary goals of national economic competiveness and social diversity.