Getting the Public Invested in Science Through Tactical Funding
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2. Getting the public invested in science OpenScience Summit 2010 David Vitrant Ph.D. & Mark Friedgan
3. Why We Started FundScience The average age of NIH grant recipients is 42! Few PhD and Post-Doc starter grants available Few funding institutions provide money for untested ideas NIH, Biotechs, and Foundations Control most of the funding Usually fund large, well established labs or facilities. Retain intellectual property I wanted my mom and friends to understand my research project
4. FundScience Goals Provide research funds to future generations of researchers Create an ecosystem for scientists to collaborate with each other and interact with the public Enable public philanthropy through tactical funding of small pilot research projects Give public insight into the scientific process from grant writing to results Apply open source methodology toscientific research Getting the public invested in science
5. Accomplishments Raised over $100,000 Established partnerships Pittsburgh Super Computing Center Carnegie Science Center Round one of grant applications is in progress Received 501(c)3 status (Public Charity) Press Coverage Science The Scientist
6. Round One Projects Elucidating the molecular mechanism of the Glutamate Transporter through simulation and modeling Researcher: Joshua Adelman Institution: University of Pittsburgh Insights into multidrug resistant pneumococcal infections using comparative genomics Researcher: Dr. N. Luisa Hiller Institution: Center for Genomic Sciences Spikerbox Researcher: Timothy Marzullo Organization: Backyard Brains
7. Where we want to be Active community of scientists and laypeople At least 2 Project Submission cycles a year Premier source of alternative funding for young researchers
8. The Team David VitrantPh.D Founder and Executive Director Ph.D. in Genetics Active in molecular biology and genetics Mark Alexander Friedgan Founder and Chief Technology Officer Infoworld 2010 Top 25 CTO Startup technology specialist Irena Friedgan Chief Operating Officer MBA from University of Chicago Experience in Health Careand Financial Services
