After his daughter survived a severe brain hemorrhage: Bill Ackman launches a giant brain research institute
Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square hedge fund, announced the establishment of a massive brain research institute in New York, following the severe medical event his daughter Lucy experienced, who suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and survived. The institute, Ackman Oxman Institute, will focus on brain rehabilitation, brain-computer interfaces, and longevity, operating under a non-academic model with an investment arm. Ackman and his wife donated approximately $400 million.
Bill Ackman, the billionaire and founder of Pershing Square hedge fund, announced the establishment of a new research institute in New York, dedicated to brain research, rehabilitation from brain injuries, brain-computer interfaces, optimization of human capabilities, and longevity. The decision to establish the institute, which he named the Ackman Oxman Institute (AOI), comes following the severe medical event his daughter Lucy, 26, experienced earlier this year. Lucy was found unconscious in her Williamsburg apartment in February after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. She underwent emergency surgery to reduce pressure on her brain, despite standard medical practice not recommending surgery if more than five hours have passed since the hemorrhage. Ackman purchased a biotechnology building spanning approximately 400,000 square feet in West Manhattan, and plans to acquire an additional adjacent building. The goal is to create a center that will engage in a variety of fields, from neurosurgery to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The institute will operate under a non-academic model, with an emphasis on cures and treatments, and will have an investment arm for developing technologies and establishing companies. Ackman and his wife Neri Oxman will donate approximately $400 million through shares, with a possible additional donation of a similar amount. The board includes Dean Kamen, George Yancopoulos, Nobel laureate James Rothman, and other scientists.