The PAD initiative
Founding Partners
Bill & Melinda Gates foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.
Learn more at gatesfoundation.org/
“The COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end, but the urgency of investing in the necessary tools to prevent and stop pandemics will only continue to grow:”
Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Novo Nordisk Foundation
The Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philantropic objectives established in Denmark in 1924. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as advancing knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.
Learn more at novonordiskfonden.dk/en/
“The duration of the COVID-19 pandemic serves as a reminder that the world needs to invest in next-generation tools to combat emerging threats. We can’t wait until the next pandemic hits to begin developing them.”
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen / CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation
Open Philanthropy
Open Philanthropy started with the question: How can we help others as much as possible through our giving? Open Philanthropy identifies outstanding giving opportunities, makes grants, and follows the results. Its mission is to give as effectively as it can and help others build on its work. Its main funders are Cari Tuna and Dustin Moskovitz, a co-founder of Facebook and Asana. Through research and grantmaking, Open Philanthropy hopes to make its philanthropy go especially far in terms of improving lives, and is excited to connect with others who share those passions.
Learn more at openphilanthropy.org/
“Given the significant and perhaps unprecedented potential for harm from pandemic viruses, we are especially interested in breakthrough research that applies to a wide swath of pathogen types.”
Alexander Berger / co-CEO, Open Philanthropy
An evolving partnership
We welcome discussions with other funding partners who share our aspiration for PAD and potentially wish to join PAD on our mission.