http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/278100_aidsvaccine19ww.html
Science \”as usual\” has become something of an obstacle in the search for an AIDS vaccine, so the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced it is awarding $287 million to 16 research teams — four of them in Seattle — that have agreed to collectively veer off the beaten path.
The most interesting aspect I thought was this…
Many of the Gates grant recipients are some of the most established names in the HIV vaccine research establishment — and, as such, responsible for business as usual. But it is what they are planning to do now and how they plan to do it that is intended to blast through the business-as-usual logjam that nearly everyone agreed has been hampering progress.
To begin with, the participating scientists all have to collaborate fully — sharing raw data and even experimental materials — rather than continue to compete as independent labs.
That almost sounds like Open Source but with serious money backing. 😉
Anyway kudos Gates Foundation… but watch out for the AFA, they probably won\’t be thrilled about this. Â
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