As the federal government has continued to slash funding for scientific research, clean energy, social services, public safety, and education, billionaire philanthropists have stepped in to fill the void. Take MacKenzie Scott, for example, who has used her $26 billion philanthropy to rescue organizations like The Trevor Project, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and HBCUs in danger after the Trump administration’s funding cuts.
Now, the Gates Foundation is stepping in to help fund scientific research through an historic $540 million gift to The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an independent research organization at the University of Washington. The 10-year grant will go toward improving access to freely available scientific health evidence used by governments, researchers, and leaders to improve health nationally and globally. The grant will allow IHME to expand its Global Burden of Disease study to improve health data for thousands of new areas. It will expand from roughly 925 locations today to nearly 5,000.
“Reliable and independent evidence can mean the difference between reacting to a health crisis after it has taken hold and acting early enough to change its course,” Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, IHME director and professor of health metrics sciences, said in a statement. “This investment will allow us to provide high-quality evidence at a much more local level and help leaders understand not only where health is improving or worsening, but which decisions can make the greatest difference for people.”
