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Transformative Basic Science

Many of the most impactful discoveries in the history of science have been novel, pathbreaking findings that enabled subsequent exploration of whole new areas. We aim to fund basic science that could end up playing that enabling role when we see it as neglected by other potential funders.

Transformative Basic Science is one of six portfolio areas within Scientific Research.

Our Work

Blog Post 4/2015
Breakthrough Fundamental Science
by Holden Karnofsky

Research that achieves broadly applicable insights about biological processes and brings on many new promising directions for research is difficult to be assured of “results” in the sense of new clinical applications.

Grant 12/2018
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities — Nanomaterials research led by Prof. Claudia Schmidt-Dannert
$150,000

The Open Philanthropy Project recommended $150,000 to the University of Minnesota to support nanomaterials research led by Professor Claudia Schmidt-Dannert. Our science team believes Professor Schmidt-Dannert could be able to design new materials that could have biomedical applications.

Grant 12/2018
Georgia Institute of Technology — Research led by Saad Bhamla
$50,000

The Open Philanthropy Project recommended $50,000 to the Georgia Institute of Technology to support research led by Sadd Bhamla. Dr. Bhamla’s proposal, “Feathers as extreme water pumps,” was submitted in response to our science team’s Innocentive challenge on bioinspiration and unusual biology.

Grant 10/2018
Boston Children's Hospital — Chronic Pain Research
$1,695,376

This funding will support research to identify specific neurons involved in processing stimulation, changes in gene expression in neurons associated with chronic pain; and feedback that may be involved in resolving pain signals. This research will contribute to our understanding of chronic pain.

Grant 8/2018
University of California, San Francisco — Chronic Pain Research
$1,021,318

This grant supports research into how the brain interprets different pain signals. Greater understanding in this area could help lead to the development of novel pain drugs that can block pain without also blocking consciousness.

Press 6/2018
A Shot against Cancer Slated for Testing in Massive Dog Study
from Scientific American

Researchers supported by Open Philanthropy believe they have identified a recipe to keep tumors from forming. Three U.S. universities will start testing the candidate vaccine’s ability to prevent all cancers in dogs.

Grant 4/2018
Life Sciences Research Foundation — Young Investigators
$780,000

The funds will support four postdoctoral fellows for three years apiece. The fellows have proposed research projects investigating immunology, virology, neurobiology, and tuberculosis.

Press 12/2017
Facebook billionaire pours funds into high-risk research
from Nature

Open Philanthropy acknowledges the high odds of failure of the basic research it funds. We asked scientists who had been rejected by the NIH competition for risky research to dust off their proposals, and awarded $10.8 million to four teams.

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