Paul Allen Commits $300 Million to Institute Pursuing Knowledge About How Brain Works
Posted on March 23, 2012
Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen has committed an additional $300 million to The Allen Institute for Brain Science. This brings his total commitment to date to $500 million. The nonprofit research organization is dedicated to accelerating understanding of the human brain. The image above highlights a coronal section of an entire mouse brain.
The Allen Institute for Brain Science has developed a 10-year plan to address critical questions that are central to understanding how the brain works:
- How does the brain store, encode and process information?
- What are the cellular building blocks that underlie all brain function, and are often targets of disease?
- How do those cells develop, and then create the circuits that drive behavior, thought and brain dysfunction?
Allen says, "The accomplishments of the Institute have been truly remarkable. With its disciplined, mission-focused approach, the Institute has successfully tackled big-science projects, delivering tangible results that are helping to advance brain research around the world every day. I am excited to expand the scale and scope of the Institute's efforts, and I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish in the future."