U.S. businessman donates $100 mln to AIDS research

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

BOSTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - A Massachusetts businessman has donated $100 million to fund research into the development of an AIDS vaccine, according to Massachusetts General Hospital, which received the gift.

Phillip T. Ragon, provider of the gift, is the chief executive of a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based software company called InterSystems Corp. The money will establish the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Institute, to be based at MGH.

The gift, which will flow through MGH, will be shared with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

"By providing flexible funding and by connecting science and engineering at MIT and Harvard with the research and clinical resources of MGH, we intend to empower many of the world's best researchers to focus on what they view as the most promising research," Ragon said in a statement.

The institute will bring scientists and clinicians together to better understand how the body fights infections and ultimately to apply that understanding to a broad range of infectious diseases and cancers.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04290745.htm

[blm]

1. IIRC, Ragon was a longtime friend and supporter of John Kerry. I seem to remember he testified

before a committee hearing a few years back.

I hope his donation prompts many others to realize NOW IS THE TIME to make a difference in the world.

[bluestateguy]

2. A stimulus package for scientists

ny

[cloudythescribbler]

3. This will mean LOTS of jobs in the Boston area -- people need to remember

that all those supposedly merely idealistic policies also create lots of JOBS. That link, driven home, should be the key to a LOT of progressive political victories

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. Another evil wealthy man trying to fix his conscience.

At least according to many here.

David

[Robb]

5. Very good news, however you slice it.

That said, were it me, I would've sponsored a single person at an AIDS walk $10 million per kilometer... :D