VST Bio — Stroke Treatment


Grant investigators: Chris Somerville and Heather Youngs

This page was reviewed but not written by the grant investigators. VST Bio staff also reviewed this page prior to publication.


Open Philanthropy recommended an investment of $4,500,000 in VST Bio to develop a novel treatment for stroke and traumatic brain disease. Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide and the third most common cause of disability. Currently, there are no drugs that reduce the brain damage caused by acute stroke. Following our March 2019 support to Yale University, researchers developed antibodies that significantly reduce the brain damage caused by stroke in mice. This seed-stage investment is intended to support additional research and development in the hopes that VST Bio can subsequently raise additional funds from other investors to conduct a clinical trial of the treatment in humans.

This falls within our work on scientific research, specifically within our interest in advancing human health and wellbeing.

The investment amount was updated in April 2022.