Paul Allen, Microsoft Co-Founder, Gives $300 Million For Brain Research

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allen has donated an additional $300 million to a foundation aimed at expanding research into how the brain works and how best to treat brain-related disorders.

The Allen Institute for Brain Science, based in Seattle, was established with a 2003 contribution of $100 million from the former Microsoft executive, who then donated another $100 million.

The latest contribution of $300 million will support the first four years of a 10-year plan to address critical questions about how the brain works.

Allen Jones, the institute's chief executive officer, said the questions had to be answered if "we are to understand and treat autism, Alzheimer's disease, depression, traumatic brain injury and the myriad other brain-related diseases and disorders that affect all of us either directly or indirectly."

(Reporting By Deena Beasley)

Comments

[DanUSA1]

08:46 AM on 03/23/2012

Unfortunately we'll have to put alot more into those diseases than that to comprehend the vastly complicated problems humanity faces with the mind in the future.
We are feeling so safe in this euphoria of a country that we have made, however ignoring many way too important issues and problems and sweeping them under the table as not there because of it.
However major kudos to Mr. Allen in his part to contribute to help heal some of humanities major problems.

[n1k2r3]

06:49 AM on 03/23/2012

I am happy to hear of Paul Allen's enormous contribution to brain research. This is an area that needs more and more research and understanding of how the brain really works.
Right now we have Dr. Amen and others who are telling us about this most important function.
I am anxious to hear about the role that sleep plays in keeping us brain-healthy..

[antmarye]

06:36 AM on 03/23/2012

Perhaps some of this generous gift can go to research the brains of those that are posting the negative comments. Obviously they have never known someone with a brain injury, or a child with autism, or watched a loved one with alzheimer's disease.

[Theotherside55]

06:32 PM on 03/22/2012

Man needs a brain transplant,doctor says I have a scientist brain for 100,000---I have a preachers for 200,000---I have a microsoft brain for 300,000---man ask why microsoft is so much---doc says cause it's never been used.

[Theotherside55]

06:28 PM on 03/22/2012

Guess I need brain research I would think donating to the Kanzius cancer research would make more sense.

[richgail01]

11:36 PM on 03/22/2012

You wouldn't be saying this if you had an autistic child in your family.

[gerbersmail]

12:27 AM on 03/23/2012

It doesn't matter what "good" anyone does anymore. There's always some idiot that will criticize the issue rather than praise the gift as a great contribution to society. You just can't win!

[billionstars55]

03:32 PM on 03/22/2012

Yeah, it's all so very complicated. Or is it? Here's a simpler but much
more controversial explanation. The person actually does the thinking,
not the brain. The person doesn't die, only the body. The past life
memory get's buried to a greater or lesser degree. The person is used to
becoming a child again every 50-60 years, not the current 75-85 years.
The forgetfulness and child like behavior of Alzheimers patients is
just a premature dramatisation of this cycle.

[Roommate]

03:27 PM on 03/22/2012

Invest in business that will create jobs for people

[mail4warding]

05:53 PM on 03/22/2012

Allen, Gates & Microsoft using ruthless tactics put a lot of smaller competitors out of business causing many lost jobs and enlarging MS wealth. Allen, Gates, MS should rot in Seattle. 8-)

[RoughCollie]

03:10 PM on 03/22/2012

This incredible and generous gift may finally break crack the mysteries of preventing as well as improving treatments for debilitating cognitive degeneration caused by auto-immune diseases like Lupus, various mental illnesses and organic destruction like Alzheimers. So many people suffer from brain diseases that not only destroy the quality of their lives but that of their families.

Mr. Allen, I am only one voice, but please let me speak for many by thanking you from the bottom of my heart for your extraordinary and bountiful gift that is sure to help so many of us in big and small ways. You are beyond cool, or, as my teen daughter would say...so sick!

[luckyfreeman69]

01:59 PM on 03/22/2012

thanks man

[jammer4306]

12:40 PM on 03/22/2012

thumbs up to him

[Yorksgal]

12:05 PM on 03/22/2012

Bravo and thank you.

Now if only other millionaires and billionaires would donate to worthy causes, instead of trying to corrupt this country.

[thegrrrr8est]

01:11 PM on 03/22/2012

You leave Obama and Soros out of this!

[hontoon]

04:04 PM on 03/22/2012

I hope all that money is intended for research into finding a republican brain.For $300.00 million they must be able to find at least one.

[374662]

05:09 PM on 03/22/2012

I'm not so sure of that. Perhaps for $300 trillion they could find one.