Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s Post

“Over the next 20 years, we’re going to see profound changes in how we do science.” CZI’s Head of Science Stephen Quake, D.Phil. shares our vision for using AI to help researchers make discoveries about human biology. We’re building AI tools to uncover new insights about how our cells function to identify and treat disease earlier. #science #AI #biomedicine #tech #SingleCell

Celebrating our teammates at HQ week and our summer picnic was so fun!  From brainstorming new ideas to sharing laughs, it was a week to remember. It was wonderful to build community across the organization, learn, collaborate and celebrate the progress we’ve made in science, education and in the Bay Area. #TeamCZI #science #education #BayArea

“I was so deeply impacted by the experiences of the people I met, and it really made me realize how many key questions there are about infectious diseases that have just not been answered.” Chaz Langelier spent a summer in a remote region of Uganda volunteering in a medical clinic for people with HIV/AIDS. “It solidified my conviction that working to improve treatment and well-being for patients through better diagnostics was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Now he is an associate professor of medicine at UCSF and San Francisco Biohub Investigator. He leads a team of scientists searching for novel ways to research and diagnose infectious diseases. #science #healthresearch #InfectiousDisease #research #globalhealth

As microscopes get more and more powerful, we need increasingly powerful tools to analyze the images they capture. For example, 3D images captured by advanced imaging techniques like CryoET can take months to analyze with current methods. Enter CZ Imaging Institute scientist Utz Ermel, who recently applied a machine learning algorithm developed by researchers Lorenz Lamm and Ben Engel to address this bottleneck to discovery. Using AI, Utz was able to label all membranes in over 13,000 cell images in just 3.5 days. This is a task that would have been near impossible without AI. Not only will Utz and the team at the CZ Imaging Institute continue this for more proteins in cells, all this work and the data used are shared with open access on the CryoET portal. Using tech and open collaborations, we’re accelerating towards understanding our cells so we can better treat disease. #science #AI #MachineLearning #Biomedicine #Biology #SciTech

“Event spaces continue to be a barrier for many communities of color so to be able to convene ourselves in a space that was very accepting, and where we felt comfortable, was a beautiful experience.” Liaiga-Anoa'i of the Pacific Islander Community Partnership This spring, we've been honored to host incredible cultural performances by the Pacific Islander Community Partnership, Noorani Dance and Stir Fry Stories, funded by our partner Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation. Using dance, poetry and powerful conversations, they shared stories of identity, resilience, and activism, enriching our understanding of AANHPI communities. San Mateo County is our home, and we are proud to offer the Community Space for nonprofits in our region to center inclusivity, community-building and learning. #AANHPI #AAPI #community #CulturalCelebration #RedwoodCity

Open sharing of all scientific knowledge is the goal! It’s energizing to spend time with open science champions promoting collaboration and accessibility through shared tools, platforms, and organizations essential to biomedicine. Shout out to our Open Science grantees who met up with us in Boston

We’re so thankful for the 120+ people from around the world who attended the Undiagnosed Hackathon. These experts, patients and patient advocates spent the weekend diving into de-identified patient data like medical records, genomic data and more. Using analytical methods, AI, and innovation, they worked tirelessly to crack previously unsolved medical mysteries. 10 cases (and counting) were successfully diagnosed in 48 hours. 350 million people live with an undiagnosed disease worldwide. That’s why our partner, Wilhelm Foundation, launched the Undiagnosed Hackathon, to find new ways and build collaborations to solve undiagnosed rare diseases through accelerated patient-centered problem-solving. These teams are not just solving undiagnosed challenges; they are addressing real-world problems faced by individuals with undiagnosed conditions. #UndiagnosedHackathon2024 #RareDisease #RareAsOne #research

“We are building community power so people have the agency to shape decisions that affect them.” The Bay Area is Alma Pulido’s home. As our community affairs program officer, she’s supporting organizations advancing community-based solutions to increase access to opportunity in the communities where she grew up and where she and her family still live. “Everyone deserves equitable opportunity to reach their full potential.” #community #AffordableHousing #housing #TeamCZI