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May 10, 2010
Bill Gates Put Some Money On Schrödinger
Posted by Derek
My take on the recent news that Bill Gates has invested ten million dollars in the computational drug design company Schrödinger is here at Nature News. (They've recently made all their stories open-access, by the way, so you don't need a subscription to get the full stories).
In short, I think that patient billionaire money is just the sort of thing the field needs, because anyone with a short timeline and a need for a good return is going to have a rough time of it. . .
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College chemistry, 1983
The 2002 Model
After 10 years of blogging. . .
1. Matt Winkelmann on May 10, 2010 9:05 AM writes...
Met a representative from Schroedinger last week and if I understood her correctly, the Gates money goes exclusively to basic research (i. e. protein structure prediction). They're hiring a bunch of scientists for this purpose.
Permalink to Comment2. metaphysician on May 10, 2010 10:47 AM writes...
#1- Sounds like smart investing to me. Thats exactly where the money will do the most good, 10-20 years down the road.
Permalink to Comment3. Far from the mothership on May 10, 2010 3:17 PM writes...
Their press release: http://www.schrodinger.com/newsletter/14/87/
Permalink to Comment4. Doug on May 10, 2010 6:11 PM writes...
Am I the only one thinking the drug in Schrödinger's box is effective and not at the same time until you open the box?
Sorry, been one of those days.
Permalink to Comment5. Crazed_modeler on May 11, 2010 1:09 AM writes...
Doug,
Given the company's name, you would think they would be involved in quantum computing ;-)
In related but off topic news, Bill Gates is also funding a project to suck up seawater and spray it into the air.
Permalink to Comment6. Skeptic on May 11, 2010 1:11 PM writes...
Of course The Computationalists will defeat The Chemists. Why?
Because The Computationalists aren't resource burners like The Chemists. Thats all that is required. Anything else is gravy.
When you don't have a competitive energy infrastructure what other outcome would you expect?
Permalink to Comment7. MC on May 11, 2010 2:47 PM writes...
He's invested in biotechs before. When I worked in Seattle, I know he (and Paul Allen) invested in a biotech called Darwin. A chemist that I knew was actually doing chromatography and turned around and Bill and Paul were watching him and he had to explain to them the concept of flash chromatography.
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