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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 4/2019
Life Sciences Research Foundation — Young Investigators (2019)
$1,170,000

The Open Philanthropy Project recommended $1,170,000 to the Life Sciences Research Foundation to support six early-career investigators working on issues including Alzheimer’s disease, infectious disease dynamics, cross-species transmission of bird flu and other areas.

Grant 4/2019
University of California, Los Angeles — Epigenetic Clock Research (Steve Horvath)
$2,368,300

UCLA Professor Steve Horvath and collaborators are pursuing experiments to try and understand how the “epigenetic clock” algorithm measures age, and whether changes to the related processes could have positive effects on aging.

Grant 4/2019
Kyoto University — Research on Reproductive Biology (Mitinori Saitou)
$4,000,000

Dr. Saitou has been at the forefront of research into methods of causing induced pluripotent stem cells to develop into oocytes in mice.

Grant 3/2019
University of Michigan — Research on Mammalian Gamete Development (Sue Hammoud)
$2,500,000

Dr. Hammoud’s proposed research would be specifically focused on development of gametes from stem cells.

Grant 12/2018
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities — Nanomaterials Research (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 — Biology Research (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 (Yi Zhang)
$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.

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