Open Philanthropy recommended a grant of $350,000 to Stanford University to support research led by Professor Michael Fischbach on a novel immunization method.
Professor Fischbach recently discovered that exposing mice to a strain of engineered bacteria can induce an immune response that is effective against melanoma tumors. This funding will support further research investigating this phenomenon. We view this as a grant with a low probability of success, but high potential upside, because the work could significantly advance immunology, vaccine development, and cancer treatment.
This falls within Open Philanthropy’s focus area of scientific research, and specifically within its interest in advancing human health and wellbeing.