From Cnet:
Backed by tech luminaries, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, a $3 million reward, is being presented to 11 different scientists for their efforts to cure diseases.
Here’s a link to the actual prize site.
Google’s Sergey Brin and wife Anne Wojcicki, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan, and VC Yuri Milner together put forward the funds for the prizes. They are, of course, not the first tech moguls to dedicate serious cash towards this area. Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Microsoft’s Paul Allen, and PayPal’s Peter Thiel have all contributed large amounts to promoting healthy life extension (read about it in chapter 8 of my book, 100 Plus). The Breakthrough Prize is another fantastic example of how tech titans are driving interest in the longevity meme. A big thank you to all of them!