Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s $3 billion commitment to cure, manage, or end all disease by the end of the century has sparked the imaginations of the global public health community.
For now, details on the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which was launched in December are still limited. But its ambitions from education to global health have launched new conversations about where funds are most needed. Chan Zuckerberg Science will take a unique approach by committing significant financial resources to basic science research over the next decade.
The commitment is noteworthy not only because of its dollar figure but “because of its focus on basic science research, rather than applied or translational research, its intent to develop tools and technology for the use of scientists everywhere, and its facilitation of interdisciplinary collaboration such as that between engineering and the life sciences,” Marc Kastner, the president of the Science Philanthropy Alliance, told Devex. “These strategies can help accelerate discoveries around the world to cure, prevent and manage disease.”
About the author
Catherine Cheneycatherinecheney
Catherine Cheney is the Senior Editor for Special Coverage at Devex. She leads the editorial vision of Devex’s news events and editorial coverage of key moments on the global development calendar. Catherine joined Devex as a reporter, focusing on technology and innovation in making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to joining Devex, Catherine earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, and worked as a web producer for POLITICO, a reporter for World Politics Review, and special projects editor at NationSwell. She has reported domestically and internationally for outlets including The Atlantic and the Washington Post. Catherine also works for the Solutions Journalism Network, a non profit organization that supports journalists and news organizations to report on responses to problems.
