We all know the philanthropic efforts of Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. They have been in the news on various occasions with their different charity projects. Recently, the duo pledged an amount of $3 billion for funding medical research over a period spanning a decade. At one of the recent press conference that was conducted in San Francisco, they announced that their ultimate goal was to “cure, prevent or manage all diseases by the end of the century”.
Together they had created the Chan-Zuckerberg initiative in December 2015 and it is this trust which will be used to distribute funds. Zuckerberg recently expressed his disappointment over the fact that nearly 50 times more money is spent on trying to treat people who are ill rather than eliminating the disease which could otherwise prevent people from falling ill. He is of the opinion that by
- Bringing both engineers and scientists together on a common platform
- And to use new research methods for making tools
- Backed by the creation of the right funds, the world as a whole could eradicate too many diseases.
Zuckerberg recently expressed his disappointment over the fact that nearly 50 times more money is spent on trying to treat people who are ill rather than eliminating the disease which could otherwise prevent people from falling ill. He is of the opinion that by bringing both engineers and scientists together on a common platform and to use new research methods for making tools backed by the creation of the right funds, the world as a whole could eradicate too many diseases.
Microsoft too has done its bit as they decided that they would solve cancer with the help of tools using artificial intelligence. The Deep Mind unit by Google too has been working with the NHS for finding the right way of putting computers to use for accurate diagnosis. IBM and MIT together announced a tie-up which would focus on developing AI based systems.
Zuckerberg’s Initiatives
Priscilla added that together they had committed $600 million to creating a research center called Biohub. This will mainly focus on bringing together engineers, chemists, biologists and other innovators. They are mainly two projects that the Biohub will be working on.
The first project is the cell atlas. This is the map which describes all those cells which can control the different organs of the body. Along with this, the second phase is mainly the initiative for infectious disease. This is focused on helping to develop new tests and vaccines for major diseases like Ebola, Zika, and HIV.
Zuckerberg has a vision that by 2100, the life expectancy on an average would shoot beyond 100 years. However, he does realize that there is a long way to go. The right kind of revolution needs to come in the field of science, technology, and medicine. Even Bill Gates was present at the event and he praised the announcement calling it bold and ambitious. He added that science needed to develop and revolutionize for making this dream true.
The start of the philanthropy
It was back in December 2015 that both Zuckerberg and Chan announced that they would give away 99% of their shares for the sake of funding the good causes. The main mission of the organization is to carry out long-term investment in work which will help in advancing the human potential. At the same time, it shall promote equality too.
No doubt, science, and technology, when tapped in an effective manner, can help us achieve the right cure for most diseases. Let us hope that funds and technology backed with science shall help make the dream turn true.
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