There's no stopping Paul Allen as far as supporting science and research is concerned. One of the co-founders of Microsoft-he has since resigned-has just announced his donation worth $100 million to the Allen Institute for Cell Science. The money will form part of a grant that will last for five years.
Rick Horwitz, the lead scientist in the institute, sees this as a great opportunity since cells are very complex and dynamic, and despite being a subject of numerous researchers before and today, many things about them still remain unknown including their activities when a person is sick. Horwitz used to work as a professor in University of Virginia.
The institute, which will employ more than 70 scientists, will invest on the latest advanced medical technologies like 3D microscopes in the hopes they can come up with a more accurate and easy-to-understand cellular models that can be great tools for more research and learning-a "Google Maps for the different body cells," so to speak.
One of their initial projects is focused on steam cells, including how they form into other types of cells.
Allen is currently one of the top billionaires in the world with a net worth of more than $16 billion. After leaving Microsoft, he created Vulcan Inc., which oversees his many businesses and contributions. He has stakes in real estate, media, and tech companies. He also owns two sports groups, including Portland Trailblazers.
Like his co-founder Bill Gates, he's also a popular philanthropist. He has donated around $100 million to help fight Ebola, making him one of the biggest contributors thus far. He also has founded research institutes for varied studies. The Allen Institute for Brain Science, a non-profit organization, already received around $500 million. It was set up to study how the brain works and assist in finding treatments for brain injuries. Through his foundation Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, he's already donated half a billion dollars to more than 1,000 non-profit groups.