Giving
JCVI Innovation Fund
The biggest scientific breakthroughs developed at JCVI—including sequencing of the first genome, the first microbiome sequencing, and creating new synthetic life were funded outside the traditional grant system.
The Innovation Fund provides early-stage funding for JCVI’s most ambitious projects.
Why Do We Need an Innovation Fund?
National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other public funding sources receive far more proposals than they can fund. This makes reviewers risk-averse—they tend to fund projects whose results are certain.
But JCVI was built to follow a different path. JCVI’s mission is to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and to pursue creative new ideas that leverage the power of genomics. We do this through fast-paced, high-risk/high-reward research—the outcomes of which are not always easy to predict.
JCVI depends on private funds to unleash scientists’ most groundbreaking ideas, moving them from mere plans to impactful programs that can later be supported by traditional funding sources.
How the Fund Works
A faculty committee, chaired by Dr. J. Craig Venter, reviews project proposals and makes funding decisions.
Projects will vary in duration and budget; and the committee will evaluate progress and potential throughout the projects timeline. Currently the Innovation Fund is supporting research in autoimmune diseases, specifically Multiple Sclerosis and Type 1 Diabetes.
How You Can Help
Here are a few ways you can support the Innovation Fund:
- Give directly to the innovation fund (link)
- Attend the JCVI Gala (Funds received support the Innovation Fund)
- Donate a percentage of an organization’s sales to the fund
Fund supporters will have an inside view of cutting-edge research at JCVI—and play a critical, direct role in the advancement of science.
You can play a role in the development of the next big scientific discovery.
Find Out More
To learn more, contact the JCVI Development Office at development(AT)jcvi.org.