Google, Meta and Isomorphic Labs back $1.8bn virtual cell initiative
Google DeepMind, Meta and Isomorphic Labs are jointly investing $300 million in Biohub, the biomedical research organisation founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan. The funding forms part of a $1.8 billion initiative to build AI datasets that could help researchers study biology digitally and find ways to prevent and manage disease.
Biohub, founded in 2016, aims to create a “virtual cell” for running simulations of biological processes. The US Department of Energy plans to invest more than $500 million over five years, while the National Institutes of Health will contribute datasets and other resources built through more than $500 million in previous federal investment. Biohub says predictive models could let scientists conduct experiments digitally and speed up discovery.
- Google DeepMind, Meta and Isomorphic Labs are investing $300 million in Biohub.
- The money supports a wider $1.8 billion virtual cell initiative.
- US federal agencies will also contribute funding and research resources.
New here? Start with this
Biohub, a biomedical research organisation founded by Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, is developing digital simulations of human cells known as "virtual cells". These simulations would let scientists model biological processes and test potential treatments on computers before conducting laboratory experiments.
Three technology companies—Google DeepMind, Meta, and Isomorphic Labs—are investing $300 million in the project, which is part of a broader $1.8 billion funding initiative. The US government is also backing the effort, with the Department of Energy contributing over $500 million and the National Institutes of Health sharing research data and resources developed through more than $500 million in previous federal investment.
The aim is to accelerate medical discovery by allowing researchers to test treatments and biological ideas on computers before or instead of lengthy laboratory work. This could significantly shorten the timeline from identifying a disease to developing medicines and strategies to manage it.
AI Art Business Celebrity Companies Culture Entertainment Health Medicine Research Science Technology
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Verge as “Google invests millions in Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to create a ‘virtual cell’”.