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We primarily support biomedical research but our interests are not limited to any particular field, disease, condition, or population. Instead, we seek to identify scientific research that has the potential for high impact and is under-supported by other funders. We are excited to support high-risk and unconventional science when the potential impact is sufficiently large.

     6AREAS60GRANTS MADE$137.3MILLION GIVEN   

  

        Highlights          Grant $17,500,000   Sherlock Biosciences — Research on Viral Diagnostics Sherlock Biosciences is leveraging CRISPR to develop a diagnostic platform to quickly, easily, and inexpensively identify any human virus. This significant advance in viral diagnosis could reduce threats from viral pandemics and benefit health care broadly.

  …more > Science for Global Health Biosecurity and Pandemic Preparedness    Grant   Sherlock Biosciences — Research on Viral Diagnostics       Blog Post  by Heather Youngs  Our ‘Second Chance’ Program for NIH Transformative Research Applicants We announced four grants totalling $10.8 million that represent a new approach to finding high-impact giving opportunities: piggybacking on a government grant program designed to find transformative research.

  …more > Transformative Basic Science    Blog Post   Our ‘Second Chance’ Program for NIH Transformative Research Applicants       Press   from National Public Radio Can A Cocktail Of Vitamins And Steroids Cure A Major Killer In Hospitals? Scientists have launched two large studies, including one we supported, to test a treatment that could have an enormous impact on the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals — sepsis.

  …more > Human Health and Wellbeing    Press   Can A Cocktail Of Vitamins And Steroids Cure A Major Killer In Hospitals?       

    Thematic areas       Human Health and Wellbeing         Biosecurity and Pandemic Preparedness         Scientific Innovation:Tools and Techniques         Transformative Basic Science         Science Policy and Infrastructure         Other Scientific Research Areas          

     Scientific research priorities Our scientific research priorities are determined through the same mechanisms as our other causes, primarily by evaluating the importance, neglectedness and tractability of the ideas. We are excited to take on high-risk projects when the transformative potential is large enough.

 We are broadly interested in research that may lead to improved understanding of topics related to human health. We are most interested in research that could affect a large number of people but which is underfunded by government agencies or other types of organizations.

 Some aspects of the following topics are currently of particular interest: broad spectrum antiviral drugs, universal influenza vaccine, basic immunology, chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, mechanisms of aging, epigenetics, novel scientific tools and methods, under-studied or unusual biological phenomena, and research on how biomedical research may be improved. Additionally, we are interested in research that supports the further development of plant-based meat replacements.

 Grantmaking process We typically identify portfolio areas by looking for metrics related to the number of lives affected (often starting with the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease). We begin with landscaping exercises to identify important research topics that could have the greatest impact in a given area.

 Once we understand the research gaps in these fields, we assess which gaps are underfunded and seem most amenable to progress if funded. Often as part of this process, we will attend scientific conferences and interview scientists as advisors, peer reviewers, or potential grantees. For more information see our Guide for Grant Seekers.

 Open calls for proposals We are open to receiving unsolicited short pre-proposals at science@openphilanthropy.org. We try to consider all proposals but are unable to respond in most cases.

 Back to Top    Key Staff The following Open Philanthropy staff oversee the Scientific Research program.

    Chris Somerville

 Program Officer, Scientific Research

 Full bio 

    Heather Youngs

 Program Officer, Scientific Research

 Full bio 

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