How to Fund Breakthroughs in Neuron Regeneration with Tom Kalil

The Neuron Regeneration Podcast

In this episode of the Neuron Regeneration podcast, we step outside the lab and into a topic that's just as critical as the science itself—funding. While most episodes focus on the cutting-edge discoveries behind neuron regeneration, today, we’re talking about how those discoveries can make it into the clinic to help people.

We’re joined by Tom Kalil, a leader in innovation and science policy who has spent decades helping researchers turn high-risk, high-reward ideas into reality. With an incredible background that includes working in the White House for Presidents Clinton and Obama, and now leading Renaissance Philanthropy, Tom shares powerful insights about how philanthropy is driving groundbreaking scientific advancements.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Role of Philanthropy in Scientific Innovation: Tom Kalil highlights the importance of philanthropic funding in advancing high-risk, high-reward research, particularly for early-stage ideas that traditional funding sources often overlook.

• Focused Research Organizations (FROs): An introduction to FROs—time-bound, nonprofit entities designed to tackle specific, transformative scientific challenges—and how they address gaps between academic research and venture-backed startups.

• Breakthrough Technologies in Neuroscience: Discussion of innovative projects such as brain mapping through expansion microscopy and chip-sized focused ultrasound devices for minimally invasive neurological treatments.

• The “Why Now” Narrative: Strategies for researchers to craft compelling stories about why new capabilities or discoveries make this the perfect moment to invest in their work.

• Finding the Right Philanthropists: Practical advice on identifying and engaging donors, with an emphasis on understanding the heterogeneity of philanthropists’ interests, priorities, and decision-making processes.

• Community-Driven Research Agendas: The benefits of creating collective research agendas to unify scientists, attract large-scale funding, and identify projects that can move entire fields forward.

• Overcoming Funding Challenges: Insights into navigating funding obstacles, including limited data availability, tech transfer issues, and the competitive landscape of scientific grants.

• The Future of High-Impact Funding Models: Exploration of milestone-based payments, prize competitions like XPRIZE, and the potential role of ARPA-H in supporting bold, high-risk neuroscience research.

• Lessons from Successful Philanthropic Projects: Examples of impactful philanthropic investments, such as accelerating cancer research through biomarker development and reducing the cost of brain mapping by orders of magnitude.

Stay connected:

• Connect with Tom Kalil:

  • Websites: renaissancephilanthropy.org

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