The $40 million effort will allow eight research teams to spend substantial time and energy pursuing collaborative and potentially transformative research projects. They include developing an ultra-miniature implantable wireless sensor for monitoring the progression of glaucoma, identifying drugs capable of clearing toxic brain proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases, and determining whether the study of gene regulation in ants can be used as a model for human aging.
Recognizing Collaborative Innovations
Surprising findings can emerge when scientists follow ideas that stray from their primary research paths. A pilot project by HHMI, the Collaborative Innovation Awards, is designed to encourage HHMI investigators to team up with scientists outside the Institute for new projects that are so large in scope that they require a team of collaborators with a range of expertise.