Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
See separate instructions.
Information about Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at www.irs.gov/form990.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 9 above or IRC section (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization in col. (i) listed in your governing document? | (v) Did you notify the organization in col. (i) of your support? | (vi) Is the organization in col. (i) organized in the U.S.? | (vii) Amount of monetary support | |||
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| Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | ||||
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(a) 2009 | (b) 2010 | (c) 2011 | (d) 2012 | (e) 2013 | (f) Total | |
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| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") .... | ||||||
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf....... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | ||||||
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | ||||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2009 | (b) 2010 | (c) 2011 | (d) 2012 | (e) 2013 | (f) Total | |
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| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | ||||||
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | ||||||
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part IV.).. | ||||||
| 11 | Total support (Add lines 7 through 10). | ||||||






Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2009 | (b) 2010 | (c) 2011 | (d) 2012 | (e) 2013 | (f) Total | |
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| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose...... | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513.. | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5. | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons... | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2009 | (b) 2010 | (c) 2011 | (d) 2012 | (e) 2013 | (f) Total | |
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| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part IV.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||




| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Explanation |
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| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Core Form, Part V, Line 4b | Authority over Financial Account in a Foreign Country HHMI has signature authority over investment accounts in the following foreign countries through their custodian, Bank of New York Mellon: ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA BELGIUM BERMUDA BRAZIL CANADA CHILE CHINA COLOMBIA CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC DENMARK EGYPT ESTONIA FINLAND FRANCE GERMANY GREECE HONG KONG HUNGARY INDIA INDONESIA IRELAND ISRAEL ITALY JAPAN JORDAN KENYA LUXEMBOURG MALAYSIA MAURITIUS MEXICO MOROCCO NETHERLANDS NEW ZEALAND NIGERIA NORWAY PERU PHILIPPINES POLAND PORTUGAL ROMANIA RUSSIA SINGAPORE SLOVENIA SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH KOREA SPAIN SRI LANKA SWEDEN SWITZERLAND TAIWAN THAILAND TURKEY UKRAINE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNITED KINGDOM URUGUAY VENEZUELA ZIMBABWE. HHMI also has direct signature authority in Mauritius. |
| Core Form, Part VI, Section B, Line 11A | Description of 990 Review Process The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Form 990 is initially prepared by its Tax Compliance Department, in coordination with other HHMI departments as needed. The draft return is reviewed by senior management of HHMI and by attorneys in HHMI's Office of the General Counsel. Following these reviews and the resolution of any questions that have been raised, the draft return is reviewed by HHMI's outside tax preparer. Finally, a copy of the return is provided to the members of HHMI's Board of Trustees so that they have an opportunity to review and comment on the return before it is filed. |
| Conflict of Interest Policy | In addition to HHMI's code of conduct, which addresses conflicts of interest and applies to all HHMI employees, officers, Trustees, and advisors, HHMI has specific conflict of interest policies for different categories of personnel. Under the HHMI policies that apply to Trustees, officers, and key employees, these individuals must disclose annually interests that could give rise to conflicts of interest, and must certify annually their compliance with the conflict of interest policy that applies to them. Annual disclosures and certifications are reviewed by HHMI's Office of the General Counsel, and by other HHMI managers as needed. The conflict of interest policy covering HHMI's Trustees also requires each Trustee to disclose to the other Trustees any actual or apparent conflict of interest with respect to a proposed HHMI transaction. If the other Trustees decide that there is only the appearance of a conflict of interest, and that it could not reasonably be considered to affect the independent, unbiased judgment of the disclosing Trustee with respect to the transaction at issue, no further action is required to address the apparent conflict. In all other cases, including all actual conflicts of interest, the disclosing Trustee is not permitted to participate in the deliberation or decision regarding the transaction under consideration, and must leave the room during the deliberation and vote. The conflict of interest policy covering HHMI's officers and key employees requires each covered individual to obtain supervisory approval up to the level of HHMI's President before entering into an affiliation with or acquiring an interest of 1% or more in any entity that is or may become a recipient of HHMI funds. HHMI's President, in consultation with HHMI's General Counsel, may permit the affiliation or interest if it would not interfere with the covered individual's performance of his or her HHMI responsibilities, would not create the appearance of a conflict of interest, and would be consistent with sound business judgment. HHMI's President may set conditions on approval, for example that there be no remuneration to the covered individual. Proposed affiliations and interests of 1% or more of HHMI's President are subject to the approval of the Chairman of the Trustees. |
| Core Form, Part VI, Section B, Lines 15a-b | Process for determining compensation The compensation for HHMI's President, other officers, and key employees is set using the following procedures. Every other year, the Audit and Compensation Committee of HHMI's Board of Trustees engages one or more independent compensation consultants to conduct a study of comparable market data. The study includes data for HHMI's President, other officers, and key employees. The independent compensation consultants also provide an opinion regarding the reasonableness of the compensation arrangements for the positions included in the study. The study includes comparable market data for all components of compensation for each person covered by the study, including base salary, incentive compensation (if any), and benefits. The Committee relies on the market data and opinion provided by the compensation consultant in making recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding compensation for HHMI's President, other officers and key employees. The decision is made by independent Trustees. Any Trustee who has a conflict of interest with respect to a specific officer or key employee must recuse himself or herself from the decision on that person's compensation, and leave the meeting room during the debate and voting on it. In the alternate years when a study is not done, the Audit and Compensation Committee confirms with the independent compensation consultants that the range of any proposed merit increases for HHMI employees, including senior management, is reasonable compared with generally prevailing compensation increases in the market over the past year. The Committee relies on this advice in recommending compensation for HHMI's President, other officers and key employees, and the Board of Trustees relies on this advice in making compensation decisions. Recusal procedures are the same in as in the years when a study is done. In each year, minutes of the discussions and decisions regarding compensation are prepared after each meeting and are submitted for approval at the next meeting. Approved minutes are kept in HHMI's records. All minutes include the date of the meeting, identify those Trustees who attended and voted on the compensation arrangements, and note any recusals of Trustees with a conflict of interest. The comparability studies and opinions relied on at the meeting are referenced in the minutes, and copies of these materials are also kept in HHMI's records. HHMI's Board of Trustees followed this process in August 2013 in determining compensation for the following positions: President; Vice Presidents; and Managing Directors - Investments. |
| Core Form, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 | Governing documents etc available to the public HHMI's practice has been to make a copy of its charter and by-laws available on request. HHMI's code of conduct, which addresses conflicts of interest, is available to the public on the HHMI web site. A downloadable copy of HHMI's most recent audited financial statements is also available to the public on the web site. In addition, HHMI publishes "Year in Review" that provides a summary of each year's activity, expenditures, and financial performance; this publication is distributed in print and is posted on the HHMI web site. |
| Part III, Program Service, line 4a - Medical Research | Statement 1 4A: Medical Research (A) The HHMI Investigator Program (B) Janelia Farm Research Campus (C) Highlights from HHMI Research Laboratories (Fiscal Year 2014) (D) Honors and Awards Received by HHMI Scientists (A) The HHMI Investigator Program The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's approach to biomedical research can be summarized in three words: people, not projects. By employing scientists as HHMI investigators - rather than awarding research grants - the Institute provides long-term, flexible funding that enables its researchers to pursue their scientific interests wherever they lead. HHMI believes that scientists of exceptional talent and imagination will make fundamental discoveries of lasting scientific value and benefit to humanity if they are given the resources, time, and freedom to pursue challenging questions. The Institute nurtures the creativity and intellectual daring of scientists who are willing to set aside conventional wisdom or the "easy" question for a fundamental problem that may take many years to solve. Among the characteristics that distinguish this group of scientists are qualities such as creativity, a penchant for risk-taking, and a commitment to discovery, productivity, and perseverance. This unique research model is an imaginative and powerful alternative to funding biomedical research through grants. The HHMI Investigator Program employs more than 310 HHMI researchers, among them 17 Nobel laureates and 169 members of the National Academy of Sciences. In the last decade, 10 HHMI investigators have won Nobel Prizes. HHMI investigators direct Institute research laboratories on the campuses of 70 universities and other research organizations throughout the United States. Since the early 1990s, investigators have been selected through rigorous national competitions. The Institute solicits applications directly from scientists at medical schools and other research institutions in the United States, with the aim of identifying those who have the potential to make significant contributions to science. HHMI employs an open application process to ensure that it is selecting its researchers from a broad and deep pool of scientific talent. In 2014, HHMI announced a national open competition to appoint up to 25 new biomedical researchers as HHMI investigators in 2015. The initiative represents an investment of approximately $150 million in basic biomedical research over the next five years. The HHMI investigator competition is open to basic researchers and physician scientists at more than 200 eligible institutions who study significant biological problems in all of the biomedical disciplines, including plant biology, as well as in adjacent fields such as evolutionary biology, biophysics, chemical biology, biomedical engineering, and computational biology. Those selected in this competition will receive a five-year appointment to HHMI, which is renewable pending favorable scientific review. Once selected, HHMI investigators continue to be based at their home institutions, typically leading a research group of 10-25 students, postdoctoral associates and technicians, but they become Institute employees and are supported by HHMI field staff. With freedom and flexibility come high expectations for intellectual output. HHMI demands creativity and innovation. Investigators are expected to work at the frontiers of their chosen field, to ask fundamental questions, and to take risks. HHMI prizes impact over publication volume in its merit-based renewal of investigator appointments and recognizes that some areas of research will proceed more slowly than others. The renewal of an investigator's five-year appointment is dependent on a rigorous peer-review process that centers on an evaluation of the originality and creativity of the investigator's work relative to others in the field, as well as the investigator's plan for future research. Those investigators whose appointments are not renewed remain HHMI employees for multi-year phase-out periods to facilitate their ability to obtain other funding for their research. Highlights of research conducted, and awards received, by HHMI scientists during its year ended August 31, 2014 are included below. (B) Janelia Research Campus The Janelia Research Campus offers a collaborative research environment for scientists across an array of disciplines who have focused on two broad scientific areas of scientific inquiry: the identification of general principles governing how neuronal circuits process information and development of imaging technologies and computational methods that support image analysis. In the current fiscal year, there were 54 laboratory heads at Janelia, in addition to supporting graduate students and other scientific trainees, visiting scientists, and a vibrant scientific conference program. During this fiscal year, HHMI and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF) announced the establishment of an Advanced Imaging Center at the Janelia Research Campus that will make leading-edge imaging technologies more widely available to academic scientists before the instruments are available commercially. With total startup funds of $4.9 million over the first two years, the new center aims to make an immediate impact by providing broader access to potentially transformative imaging technology developed at Janelia. Also this year, HHMI, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and UCL (University College London) announced a $5.5 million (4.2 million Euro) collaboration to develop and manufacture a state-of-the-art device for detecting neural activity in animal brains. The research will be conducted in conjunction with imec, a world-leading nanoelectronics research center in Leuven, Belgium. The proposed device builds on technology currently used to detect extracellular electrical activity in the brains of living animals, but incorporates recording electrodes at a much higher density. This allows researchers to collect more data and better interpret their results. Over the 38-month project, the group will develop and test the technology, then identify a version that can be manufactured and made available for use by the research community. (C) Highlights from HHMI Research Laboratories (Fiscal Year 2014) 1) Changing the Emotional Association of Memories Susumu Tonegawa, Massachusetts Institute of Technology http://www.hhmi.org/news/changing-emotional-association-memories By manipulating neural circuits in the brain of mice, scientists have altered the emotional associations of specific memories. The research reveals that the connections between the part of the brain that stores contextual information about an experience and the part of the brain that stores the emotional memory of that experience are malleable. Altering those connections can transform a negative memory into a positive one. 2) How the Brain Makes Sense of Spaces, Large and Small Albert Lee, Janelia Research Campus http://www.hhmi.org/news/how-brain-makes-sense-spaces-large-and-small When an animal encounters a new environment, the neurons in its brain that are responsible for mapping out the space are ready for anything. Scientists at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus examined neuronal activity in rats as they explored an unusually large maze for the first time. The researchers found that neurons in the brain's hippocampus, where information about people, places, and events is stored, each contribute to an animal's mental map at their own rate. Some neurons begin to associate themselves with the new space immediately, while others hold back, contributing only if the space expands beyond a size that can be represented by the first-line neurons. 3) Gene Technique Identifies Hidden Causes of Brain Malformation Christopher A. Walsh, Boston Children's Hospital http://www.hhmi.org/news/gene-technique-identifies-hidden-causes-brain-mal formation HHMI scientists have developed a strategy for finding disease-causing mutations that lurk in only a small fraction of the body's cells. Such mutations can cause significant problems, but cannot be detected with traditional methods of genetic testing, as well as newer, more costly genome sequencing technologies. The scientists used the technique to find disease-causing mutations in patients with brain malformations whose genetic causes were unknown despite previous testing. |
| Part III, Program Service, line 4a - Medical Research | (C) Highlights from HHMI Research Laboratories (Fiscal Year 2014) continued 4) New Tools Help Neuroscientists Analyze Big Data Jeremy Freeman, Janelia Research Campus Misha Ahrens, Janelia Research Campus http://www.hhmi.org/news/new-tools-help-neuroscientists-analyze-big-data Big data can mean big headaches for scientists. A new library of open source software tools from Janelia speeds analysis of data sets so large and complex they would take days or weeks to analyze on a single workstation-if a single workstation could do it at all. 5) Reconstructing an Animal's Development Cell by Cell Philipp Keller, Janelia Research Campus Kristin Branson, Janelia Research Campus http://www.hhmi.org/news/reconstructing-animals-development-cell-by-cell Advances in imaging technology are transforming how scientists see the cellular universe, showing the form and movement of once grainy and blurred structures in stunning detail. But extracting the torrent of information contained in those images often surpasses the limits of existing computational and data analysis techniques, leaving scientists less than satisfied. Researchers at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus have developed a way around that problem by creating a new computational method to rapidly track the three-dimensional movements of cells in such data-rich images. 6) Single DNA Tweak Leads to Blond Hair David Kingsley, Stanford University http://www.hhmi.org/news/single-dna-tweak-leads-blond-hair A single-letter change in the genetic code is enough to generate blond hair in humans, in dramatic contrast to our dark-haired ancestors. An analysis by HHMI scientists has pinpointed that change, which is common in the genomes of Northern Europeans, and shown how it fine-tunes the regulation of an essential gene. 7) Researchers Build New Off Switch to Shut Down Neural Activity Karl Deisseroth, Stanford University http://www.hhmi.org/news/researchers-build-new-switch-shut-down-neural-act ivity In the field of optogenetics, light-activated ion channels, such as channelrhodopsins, have become powerful tools for using light to turn on neural activity. Scientists have not had an equally precise and efficient way to inhibit neurons using light. HHMI researchers have developed an ion channel, based on the structure of channelrhodopsin, which can be used to inhibit neurons in which the channel is genetically expressed. 8) New Technique Takes Cues from Astronomy and Ophthalmology to Sharpen Microscope Images Eric Betzig, Janelia Research Campus http://www.hhmi.org/news/new-technique-takes-cues-astronomy-and-ophthalmol ogy-sharpen-microscope-images Biological samples bend light in unpredictable ways, returning difficult-to-interpret information to the microscope. Using a form of adaptive optics, Janelia scientists developed a microscopy technique that can rapidly correct for these distortions and sharpen high-resolution images over large volumes of tissue. 9) Humans Can Distinguish at Least One Trillion Different Odors Leslie Vosshall, The Rockefeller University http://www.hhmi.org/news/humans-can-distinguish-least-one-trillion-differe nt-odors How many different scents can humans detect? It's generally been accepted that humans can discriminate between 10,000 different odors-although that number was first proposed decades ago and not backed by data. HHMI scientists directly tested the olfactory capacity of human volunteers and showed that humans are equipped to tell the difference between at least one trillion different odors. 10) A Crisper View of DNA-Snipping Enzyme Jennifer A. Doudna, University of California, Berkeley Eva Nogales, University of California, Berkeley http://www.hhmi.org/news/crisper-view-dna-snipping-enzyme HHMI scientists have created a portrait of a DNA-snipping protein called Cas9 that reveals how the enzyme reshapes itself when it associates with an RNA molecule, creating a channel that lets it find and cleave its DNA target. The protein-RNA complex is a key component of a primitive bacterial immune system called CRISPR, and is also being used by researchers to cut specific DNA sequences in the laboratory for genome editing applications. 11) Undruggable Mutation Meets Its Match Kevan Shokat, University of California, San Francisco http://www.hhmi.org/news/undruggable-mutation-meets-its-match For more than 30 years, researchers have tried to develop a drug to inhibit K-Ras, the most commonly mutated oncogene in human cancers. HHMI researchers have recently identified a "pocket," or binding site, and designed a chemical compound that fits inside this pocket and inhibits the normal activity of mutant K-Ras. The research may lead to new drug designs that inhibit this common cancer mutation. 12) A Constellation in the Chaos of Cancer Chromosomes Stephen J. Elledge, Brigham and Women's Hospital http://www.hhmi.org/news/constellation-chaos-cancer-chromosomes New evidence suggests that aneuploidy patterns of chromosome deletion or amplification that are recurrent among tumors actually represent a driving force during tumor evolution and are very frequent in cancer. 13) Reservoir of Hidden HIV Larger than Previously Thought Robert Siliciano, The Johns Hopkins University http://www.hhmi.org/news/reservoir-hidden-hiv-larger-previously-thought HHMI researchers have discovered that the pool of inactive HIV viruses that lingers silently in a patient's body is larger than expected. The viruses continue to be a threat because they retain the ability to become active even after treatment with the best HIV drugs. 14) Getting Under the Skin of Scleroderma Harry C. Dietz, The Johns Hopkins University http://www.hhmi.org/news/getting-under-skin-scleroderma Scientists and clinicians have long puzzled over systemic sclerosis, the most common-and severe-form of the skin disease scleroderma. With no warning, a healthy 30- or 40-year-old person begins developing thick patches of skin on their body, and then more serious symptoms: trouble breathing or swallowing, digestive issues, and joint pain. Their skin and internal organs also gradually harden and there's no effective treatment. Those with the most severe forms of the disease can die from complications if their lung tissue hardens. HHMI researchers have now developed a mouse model of scleroderma. Their studies of the affected animals have uncovered some of the molecular pathways that go awry to cause the hardening, or fibrosis, associated with the disease. 15) RNAi Protects Mice from Deadly Heart Condition Christine E. Seidman, Brigham and Women's Hospital http://www.hhmi.org/news/rnai-protects-mice-deadly-heart-condition When a young athlete dies suddenly on a sports field, the cause is more often than not hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic disease that leads to malformation of the heart muscle. HHMI researchers have designed an inhibitor that can reduce the expression of the mutated gene that causes the condition. When mice prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy received the inhibitor, they were protected from disease-and the associated cardiac electrical abnormalities -for months. |
| Part III, Program Service, line 4a - Medical Research | (D) Honors and Awards Received by HHMI Scientists (Fiscal Year 2014) 1) Schekman, Sdhof Awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute selected Randy W. Schekman, an HHMI investigator at the University of California, Berkeley, Thomas C. Sdhof, an HHMI investigator at Stanford University, and James E. Rothman of Yale University as recipients of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells. The Nobel Assembly said the three scientists were being honored for solving the mystery of how the cell organizes its transport system. 2) Sdhof Shares Lasker Award The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation selected HHMI investigator Thomas C. Sdhof of Stanford University and Richard H. Scheller of Genentech as recipients of the 2013 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award. The Lasker Awards-considered among the most respected science prizes in the world-honor visionaries whose insight and perseverance have led to dramatic advances that will prevent disease and prolong life. Sdhof and Scheller were honored for discoveries concerning the molecular machinery and regulatory mechanism that underlie the rapid release of neurotransmitters. 3) HHMI Scientists Elected to The Royal Society HHMI investigators, Richard Axel, Stephen C. Harrison, and Joan A. Steitz, and HHMI senior international research scholar, Philippe J. Sansonetti, have been elected to foreign membership in The Royal Society in recognition of their exceptional contributions to science. Fellows and foreign members are elected for contributions to fundamental research as well as for leading scientific and technological progress in industry and research establishments. This year, 50 fellows and 10 foreign members were elected. 4) Breakthrough Prize Awarded to Richard Lifton The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation announced that HHMI investigator Richard P. Lifton of Yale University is among the six scientists awarded the Life Sciences Prize for excellence in research aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life. The Breakthrough Prizes recognize pioneering work in physics and genetics, cosmology, and neurology and mathematics. Each prize carries an award of $3 million. Lifton, who has been an HHMI investigator since 1994, uses genetic approaches to identify the genes and pathways that contribute to common human diseases, including cardiovascular, renal, and bone disease. He was honored by the foundation for the discovery of genes and biochemical mechanisms that cause hypertension. 5) Peter Walter Awarded Shaw Prize The Shaw Prize Foundation in Hong Kong announced that Peter Walter, an HHMI investigator at the University of California, San Francisco, has been awarded the Shaw Prize in Life Science & Medicine. Walter shared the $1 million award with Kazutoshi Mori of Kyoto University. The two were honored for their discovery of the unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum, a cell signaling pathway that controls organelle homeostasis and quality of protein export in eukaryotic cells. The Shaw Prize consists of three annual awards in astronomy, life science & medicine, and mathematical sciences. These international awards honor individuals who have achieved distinguished breakthroughs in academic and scientific research. The awards are dedicated to furthering societal progress, enhancing quality of life, and enriching humanity's spiritual civilization. 6) HHMI Scientists Elected to National Academy of Sciences Eight HHMI investigators and one HHMI professor were elected to the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Sciences is a private organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to the furtherance of science and its use for the general welfare. The scientists are Zhijian "James" Chen, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; James J. Collins, Boston University; Jason G. Cyster, University of California, San Francisco; Robert B. Darnell, The Rockefeller University; Michael R. Green, University of Massachusetts; Vamsi K. Mootha, Massachusetts General Hospital; Brenda Schulman, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; and HHMI Professor Alanna Schepartz, Yale University. 7) Ten HHMI Investigators Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences Ten HHMI investigators were among 204 new fellows and 16 foreign honorary members elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Membership in the American Academy honors individuals who have made prominent contributions to society and to their disciplines, which include mathematics, physics, biological sciences, social sciences, humanities and the arts, public affairs and business. The Academy's broad-based membership gives it a unique capacity to conduct a wide range of interdisciplinary studies and public policy research. The new HHMI members are Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan; Chris Q. Doe, University of Oregon; Nikola P. Pavletich, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Stephen R. Quake, Stanford University; Bernardo L. Sabatini, Harvard Medical School; Charles L. Sawyers, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; David G. Schatz, Yale School of Medicine; M. Celeste Simon, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Wilfred A. van der Donk, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Rachel I. Wilson, Harvard Medical School. |
| Part III, Program Service, line 4b - Science Education Programs | Statement 2 4b: Science Education Programs (A) Graduate Science Education and Medical Research Training (B) Precollege and Undergraduate Science Education Program (C) Educational Resources (D) Tangled Bank Studios (E) eLife - Open Access Journal HHMI's Department of Science Education emphasizes initiatives with the power to transform graduate, undergraduate, and precollege education in the sciences. HHMI is the largest private funder of science education in the United States. During the fiscal year, the Institute distributed $49 million in grants to support science education. The Institute's science education programs support ties between scientific research and teaching with the goal of increasing and enhancing student research opportunities; improving science courses, curricula, and instruction; and providing enhanced graduate and physician scientist training opportunities. Most HHMI grants are awarded through competitions with specific objectives and eligibility criteria and awards are generally made following a stringent process of peer review. HHMI's educational activities are funded through three major programs; the goals of each program and the major activities for the year are summarized below. (A) Graduate Science Education and Medical Research Training This program focuses on the development of innovative graduate education programs through grants to institutions and fellowships to students. It supports research fellowships for medical students, doctoral fellowships for students who are committed to increasing diversity among scientists, doctoral fellowships for international students pursuing the PhD at U.S. institutions, and awards research grants to physician-scientists at the outset of their careers as independent scientists. This fiscal year, HHMI selected seventy medical and veterinary students to participate in the Medical Research Fellows Program. The fellowships enable students to take a year off from professional school to conduct laboratory research. The hope is that these students will one day choose to work at the crossroads of basic research and clinical medicine. This year, HHMI received 191 fellowship applications from students representing 68 institutions. A record 10 fellows will be funded by HHMI Medical Fellows Program partner organizations this year: Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB), the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF), the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation (SIRF), K-RITH, and three new partners-the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF), the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF), and the American Gastroenterological Association Institute (AGA). The program has funded more than 1,500 students since its start in 1989. HHMI selected 46 International Predoctoral Fellows in FY2014. Each fellow is an international student pursuing a PhD at a U.S. institution, and is provided up to three years of stipend and research-related support totaling $43,000 per year. The 46 new Fellows come from 24 countries and are studying at 21 different research universities. This year, 322 applications were received. HHMI announced an expansion of the Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study, a highly successful program for graduate students who are pursuing a PhD in the life sciences and who are committed to increasing diversity among scientists. The expansion will award up to 30 Gilliam fellowships annually to students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences. Each fellow will receive an annual award totaling $43,000, which includes a stipend, a training allowance, and an allowance for each fellow's institution, for up to three years. Previously, HHMI selected between five and nine Gilliam fellows per year. A total of 62 students were awarded Gilliam fellowships during the program's first ten years. (B) Precollege and Undergraduate Science Education Program Through this program, HHMI seeks to recruit and develop the future leaders of science and enhance science literacy among all students. Precollege grants support teacher training and inquiry-based student learning. Grants to colleges and universities support undergraduate student research, faculty and curriculum development, and science education outreach activities. Through the HHMI Professors Program, HHMI provides support to distinguished scientists with a commitment to teaching. In the 2014 fiscal year: HHMI selected 37 research universities to receive $60 million in grants to improve how science is taught. The initiative enables the schools to focus on significant and sustained improvement in retaining students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Each school receives a five-year grant that ranges between $1.2-$2.4 million. The finalists were selected after three rounds of peer review from among 170 applications submitted. HHMI began a partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), to launch the collaborative Meyerhoff Adaptation Project. The project aims to learn whether elements of UMBC's highly regarded Meyerhoff Scholars Program can be adapted at Penn State and UNC. The participating schools hope to share what they learn so other institutions might follow. During the five-year Meyerhoff Adaptation Project, Penn State and UNC, working closely with UMBC and HHMI, will expand and study the Meyerhoff model, while applying it to newly created programs on their campuses. HHMI selected 15 new HHMI professors, accomplished research scientists who are making science more engaging for undergraduates. HHMI will make a $1 million grant over five years to each HHMI professor's university to create activities that integrate their research with student learning in ways that enhance undergraduate students' understanding of science. By providing HHMI professors with the funds and support to implement their ideas, HHMI hopes to empower these individuals to create new models for teaching science at research universities. The newly selected group-who represent 13 universities across the country-will join the community of HHMI professors who are working together to change undergraduate science education in the United States. A total of 78 college students were selected to participate in HHMI's Exceptional Research Opportunities Program (EXROP). In addition, 27 students from the 2013 EXROP program were funded to return to their 2013 labs for a second summer research experience. The EXROP program provides summer research experiences in the labs of HHMI investigators, professors, and at the Janelia Research Campus. Now in its 12th year, the EXROP program is designed to encourage the students to pursue careers in science. |
| Part III, Program Service, line 4b - Science Education Programs | (C) Educational Resources (continued) The Educational Resources Program produces science education resources including interactive multimedia materials, scientific animations, videos, in-class activities, the annual Holiday Lectures on Science, as well as broadcast-quality short films. The products are then made available to educators via DVD, the BioInteractive.org website, and by working collaboratively with teachers at workshops and conventions. The 2013 Holiday Lectures on Science featured HHMI investigators, Charles L. Sawyers of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Christopher A. Walsh of Boston Children's Hospital, who discussed, "Medicine in the Genomic Era." Sawyers and Walsh delivered their lectures live to an audience of nearly 200 high school students from the Washington, DC area. They discussed the breathtaking pace of discoveries into the genetic causes of various types of cancers and diseases of the nervous system, and discussed the impact of those discoveries on our understanding of normal human development and disease. Their lectures were later made available to a national and international audience through the distribution of free DVDs and the development of accompanying teaching materials. Each year, more than 100,000 copies of the DVDs are distributed; the supporting website receives more than two million visits annually. At the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) annual meeting, HHMI premiered three short films from The Origin of Species series. The first film, "The Making of a Theory," sets the stage by recounting the epic voyages of Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace and how they independently conceived of the mechanism of natural selection to explain species diversity. The second film, "The Beak of the Finch," takes viewers on a journey to discover the processes by which new species form. The last film in the series, "Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree," continues to explore the processes responsible for speciation by taking viewers to the islands of the Caribbean where the Anole lizards live. At the NABT meeting, HHMI also debuted the first film in a new series called Great Discoveries in Science. The film, "The Double Helix," brings to the classroom the story of how the double-helical structure of the DNA molecule was first determined by James Watson and Francis Crick working at the Cavendish Laboratory. The film recounts the challenges, false starts, and eventual success, that lead to the seminal 1953 Nature paper. At the annual meeting of the National Science Teachers Association, HHMI premiered a new film in The Great Transitions series. "The Origin of Tetrapods" film focuses on the fish-to-tetrapod transition and the dramatic discovery of Tiktaalik by University of Chicago biologist Neil Shubin. The short science films are all available on the Biointeractive website, www.hhmi.org/biointeractive. (D) Tangled Bank Studios Tangled Bank Studios, LLC, HHMI's documentary film production unit, is dedicated to the creation of original science documentaries for broadcast, theatrical, and digital distribution. As an extension of HHMI's longstanding science education mission, the company aims to produce programs that capture compelling stories of discovery across all branches of scientific inquiry, with particular focus on the life sciences. This year, the following Tangled Bank Studios' productions were completed for broadcast on PBS: Your Inner Fish, a scientific adventure story based on the best-selling book by paleontologist and anatomist Neil Shubin, Ph.D., of the University of Chicago. It takes us from South Africa to the Arctic Circle to uncover the 3.5-billion-year history of the human body-and how our ancient ancestors have shaped our anatomy. This three-part series, produced in collaboration with U.K. production company Windfall Films, aired on PBS in April 2014. It was accompanied by a program website (pbs.org/inner fish) that included written materials, short videos, and interactive features. Vaccines - Calling the Shots encourages parents to ask questions and use the best available evidence to make decisions about how to protect their children from vaccine-preventable diseases. This documentary travels the globe to provide the latest evidence and answers. Featuring scientists, pediatricians, psychologists, anthropologists, and parents wrestling with vaccine-related questions, the hour-long film explores the history and science behind vaccinations, tracks outbreaks, and sheds light on the risks of opting out. The film, produced for NOVA by Tangled Bank Studios in association with Genepool Productions, premiered in September 2014. It was accompanied by a program website that featured detailed essays, graphics and short videos. (E) eLife - Open Access Journal HHMI, together with the Wellcome Trust and the Max Planck Society, support a top tier scientific journal called eLife. The online journal follows an open access model and is directed by practicing scientists. eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd., is an independent non-profit entity governed by a separate board of directors. eLife began publishing research articles in late 2012 and is publishing articles online on a regular basis. |
| PART III, Program Service, Line 4c - Support for International Science | Statement 3 4C: Support for International Science (A) Senior International Research Scholars Program (B) International Early Career Scientist Program (C) The KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH) (A) Senior International Research Scholars Program HHMI continues to support 13 of the world's leading basic science researchers as Senior International Research Scholar (SIRS). The awards support outstanding biomedical scientists working outside the United States who have made significant contributions to fundamental research in the biological sciences. The SIRS awardees, selected from a group of previous HHMI international research scholars, are respected leaders in their fields. Each HHMI senior international research scholar receives a grant of $100,000 per year over five years, and presents their research at scientific meetings held at HHMI. The gatherings are intended to facilitate the exchange of ideas, stimulate new research, and provide an opportunity for collaboration with other HHMI scientists. The senior international research scholars' participation helps strengthen the growing network of international biomedical researchers. (B) International Early Career Scientist Program HHMI also continues to support 28 International Early Career Scientists who were selected for awards in 2012. Each selected scientist will receive $650,000 over a period of five years with the goal of helping these talented individuals establish independent research programs. In this pilot program, HHMI identified scientists who are, or have the potential to become, scientific leaders. The 28 HHMI International Early Career Scientists conduct research at 22 institutions in 12 countries. Each scientist who was selected had directed his or her own laboratory for less than seven years when they applied to HHMI. The countries represented by the HHMI International Early Career scientists are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Hungary, India, Italy, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and South Korea. (C) The KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH) HHMI, in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa, has established an international research center focused on making major scientific contributions to the worldwide effort to control the devastating co-epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV. The KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH) is an independent non-profit association incorporated under South African law. It is placing a major emphasis on establishing a world-class research program focused on the scientific discoveries about the infecting organisms and helping to train a new generation of scientists in Africa. HHMI has committed over $70 million to K-RITH over 10 years, including support provided during its fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. UKZN is making substantial financial and in-kind commitments to K-RITH as well. The need for more research on TB and HIV is substantial. South Africa has more residents infected with HIV than any other nation in the world. In addition, it has one of the highest per capita rates of TB in the world. K-RITH formally opened its new research building in October 2012 on the campus of the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine in Durban. The new facility includes high-level biosafety (BSL-3) laboratories equipped for HIV and TB research. K-RITH aims to be fully established and integrated into the overall South African and global research enterprise by 2018. |
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