Getting the public invested in science

OpenScience Summit 2010David Vitrant Ph.D. & Mark Friedgan

Why We Started FundScience

• The average age of NIH grant recipients is 42!• Few PhD and Post-Doc starter grants available• Few funding institutions provide money for

untested ideas• NIH, Biotechs, and Foundations

o Control most of the fundingo Usually fund large, well established labs or facilities.o Retain intellectual property

• I wanted my mom and friends to understand my research project

FundScience Goals• Provide research funds to future generations of

researchers• Create an ecosystem for scientists to collaborate

with each other and interact with the public• Enable public philanthropy through tactical

funding of small pilot research projects• Give public insight into the scientific process from

grant writing to results• Apply open source methodology to scientific

research

Getting the public invested in science

Accomplishments• Raised over $100,000• Established partnerships

o Pittsburgh Super Computing Centero Carnegie Science Center

• Round one of grant applications is in progress

• Received 501(c)3 status (Public Charity)• Press Coverage

o Scienceo The Scientist

Round One Projects• Elucidating the molecular mechanism of the

Glutamate Transporter through simulation and modeling o Researcher: Joshua Adelmano Institution: University of Pittsburgh

• Insights into multidrug resistant pneumococcal infections using comparative genomics o Researcher: Dr. N. Luisa Hillero Institution: Center for Genomic Sciences

• Spikerboxo Researcher: Timothy Marzullo o Organization: Backyard Brains

Where we want to be• Active community of scientists

and laypeople• At least 2 Project Submission

cycles a year• Premier source of alternative

funding for young researchers

The Team• David Vitrant Ph.D

o Founder and Executive Directoro Ph.D. in Geneticso Active in molecular biology and genetics

• Mark Alexander Friedgan o Founder and Chief Technology Officero Infoworld 2010 Top 25 CTOo Startup technology specialist

• Irena Friedgan o Chief Operating Officero MBA from University of Chicagoo Experience in Health Care and Financial Services

Sponsors and Partners 

Questions

?