A previous donor to Emergent Ventures Fast Grants is providing additional support to the program with the intent of helping to alleviate the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in India.听
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The anonymous donor from the New York City financial community recently contributed an additional $2 million, much of which will be used听by Emergent Ventures India听to help听that country鈥檚听scientists better analyze data that will help them better allocate medical resources in the fight against the lethal virus that is ravaging the world鈥檚听second-most populous country.
鈥淭he ongoing problems in India, I do think were a motivating force,鈥 said听, a professor of economics within Mason鈥檚听听and the faculty director of the听听that houses the Emergent Ventures program. 鈥淎 lot of people wanted to help and they weren鈥檛 sure what to do, so they鈥檙e delegating that out to others like Emergent Ventures.鈥
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Cowen.听A $1 million grant from the Thiel Foundation launched the program, which Cowen said has received an overwhelming response and has sparked significant scientific progress.听
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鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 been very heartening听to see a lot of听the people receive the money and have success in helping the world,鈥 he said.听
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Emergent Ventures Fast Grants range between $10,000 and $500,000, with decisions听about who receives them typically taking less than 14 days before they are dispersed to recipients.
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To date, the program has doled out roughly $60 million in more than 240 grants, including several for potential听vaccines and treatments for听COVID-19.听A Fast Grant听to听Yale University听scientists听last fall听played a key role in the development of the听.听
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