• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
NewslettersBrainstorm Health

Bill Gates Commits $10 Million More for Alzheimer’s Research to ‘Part the Cloud’

By
Sy Mukherjee
Sy Mukherjee
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Sy Mukherjee
Sy Mukherjee
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 4, 2019, 7:05 PM ET

This is the web version of Brainstorm Health Daily, Fortune’s daily newsletter on the top healthcare news. To get it delivered daily to your in-box, sign up here.

Hello and happy Monday, readers! I hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Bill Gates is continuing to pour money into Alzheimer’s research efforts. The billionaire philanthropist is funding a new $10 million award for an Alzheimer’s Association program called “Part the Cloud”—a global research program that’s meant to spur what the agency calls “high-risk, high-reward” Alzheimer’s and dementia research, including new drugs, diagnostics, and ways of tracking brain activity.

Gates’ award to Part the Cloud (which is led by fellow philanthropist Mikey Hoag) will add on to $20 million that the Alzheimer’s Association is raising as part of the joint effort. That would, in the span of just one year, double the total research investment in the program over seven years to $60 million.

As the groups explained, Part the Cloud’s focus here is less on late-stage Alzheimer’s drugs that have had a rather abysmal track record for decades; rather, the money will be used to fuel early-stage clinical studies that examine new avenues of tackling dementia.

“The Alzheimer’s Association Part the Cloud program is impressive and accelerating early clinical phases of drug development to slow, stop, and ultimately cure the disease,” said Gates in a statement.

Read on for the day’s news.

Sy Mukherjee

sayak.mukherjee@fortune.com

@the_sy_guy

DIGITAL HEALTH

Sometimes, simple tech may be enough to make health care more efficient. Sometimes in the digital health space, it's so easy to get caught up in the big-name, aspirational technology (A.I.! Machine Learning! Robots!) you can forget that, sometimes, simple innovations can have profound effects in and of themselves. Take the example of California health system Eisenhower, which leveraged simple phone- and text-message based interfaces (combined with its mostly elderly patient pools' electronic health records) to slash no-show rates at the doctor's office. This has helped patients keep to their planned appointments while also boosting its annualized net income. (Healthcare IT News)

Medtronic sues Axonics over alleged high-tech neuromodulation tech IP infringement. Medical device giant Medtronic has sued rival Axonics for alleged IP infringement, claiming the latter company's "sacral neuromodulation" technology (recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration) infringes on Medtronic's proprietary technology. These devices essentially use electrical pulses sent to the lower back and pelvic region in order to control incontinence, and until recently, Medtronic had a virtual stranglehold on the market. Axonics has not yet responded to the lawsuit, and we'll update this post once they do.

INDICATIONS

Trump officially taps Stephen Hahn as next FDA commissioner. President Donald Trump has officially tapped Dr. Stephen Hahn, an oncologist and the chief medical executive at the renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center, to be the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This would be the second consecutive oncologist to take the helm at the agency after interim chief Dr. Ned Sharpless, the former director of the National Cancer Institute. (Dr. Brett Giroir will take up interim responsibilities from Sharpless while the Senate considers Hahn's nomination.) Several prominent public health officials, including former full-time FDA head Dr. Scott Gottlieb, had pushed for Sharpless' permanent appointment.

THE BIG PICTURE

Study: More parents turn to religious exemptions to avoid vaccination. New research published in the journal Pediatrics suggests that an increasing number of parents are turning to "religious exemptions" in order to skirt vaccine requirements for their children. These, unlike the far more rare "personal or philosophical" exemptions, are allowed in 45 states and Washington, D.C. But the growing prevalence has raised questions about whether or not people are simply using the exemptions as an excuse given that nearly all major religions don't actively condemn vaccination—and that is being fueled as part of active anti-vaccination misinformation campaigns across social media. (CNN)

REQUIRED READING

A Digital Dollar for a Strong United States Financial System, by Brian Brooks

Fitbit Gets Struck By Silicon Valley's Hardware Hex, by Adam Lashinsky

Give or Take a Trillion, Banks Haggle Over Saudi Aramco's IPO Valuation, by Adrian Croft

AMD CEO Lisa Su on 2020 Outlook: 'The Best Is Yet to Come', by Susie Gharib

Sign up for other Fortune newsletters.

IF YOU LIKE THIS EMAIL...

Share today’s Brainstorm Health with a friend.

Did someone share this with you? Sign up here. For previous editions, click here.

For even more, check out raceAhead, Fortune's daily newsletter on culture in corporate America. Sign up here.

About the Author
By Sy Mukherjee
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Newsletters

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Newsletters

woman typing on a computer.
NewslettersMPW Daily
The ‘AI gender gap’ narrative is missing the full picture
By Emma HinchliffeApril 9, 2026
7 hours ago
Even Nvidia’s own research teams can’t get enough GPUs amid the race for AI computing power
NewslettersEye on AI
Even Nvidia’s own research teams can’t get enough GPUs amid the race for AI computing power
By Sharon GoldmanApril 9, 2026
8 hours ago
Senior executive team together in conference meeting room in contemporary modern office bright sunny daylight sunset dusk talking discussing planning organizing strategy.
NewslettersCFO Daily
The white-collar jobs most exposed to AI, according to Anthropic’s own data
By Sheryl EstradaApril 9, 2026
12 hours ago
Bobby Healy stands in front of a Manna drone with his arms crossed.
NewslettersTerm Sheet
ARK Invest is betting on underdog drone delivery company Manna to beat out Alphabet and Zipline
By Lily Mae LazarusApril 9, 2026
12 hours ago
Why CEO Michelle Gass is thriving at Levi’s after stumbling at Kohl’s
NewslettersCEO Daily
Why CEO Michelle Gass is thriving at Levi’s after stumbling at Kohl’s
By Phil WahbaApril 9, 2026
14 hours ago
Meta chief AI officer Alexandr Wang in New Delhi on February 19, 2026. (Photo: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images)
NewslettersFortune Tech
Meta takes the wraps off Muse Spark
By Andrew NuscaApril 9, 2026
14 hours ago

Most Popular

The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined
Economy
The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
13 hours ago
2 years ago, Saudi Arabia quietly canceled the ‘petrodollar’ deal with America that wired the world economy for 50 years. Then war broke out in Iran
Energy
2 years ago, Saudi Arabia quietly canceled the ‘petrodollar’ deal with America that wired the world economy for 50 years. Then war broke out in Iran
By Fortune EditorsApril 7, 2026
2 days ago
The U.S. had a national debt ‘home run’ in its grasp, says Jamie Dimon. But the government did nothing, and now its best option is crisis management
Economy
The U.S. had a national debt ‘home run’ in its grasp, says Jamie Dimon. But the government did nothing, and now its best option is crisis management
By Fortune EditorsApril 8, 2026
2 days ago
Self-made billionaire MrBeast says his work-life balance is nonexistent and calls it a ‘miracle’ if he works less than 15-hour days: ‘I live to work’
Success
Self-made billionaire MrBeast says his work-life balance is nonexistent and calls it a ‘miracle’ if he works less than 15-hour days: ‘I live to work’
By Fortune EditorsApril 8, 2026
1 day ago
Gen Z doesn't want your full-time job. They want several part-time roles, and it's reshaping the entire workforce
Success
Gen Z doesn't want your full-time job. They want several part-time roles, and it's reshaping the entire workforce
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
16 hours ago
Gen Z workers are so fearful AI will take their job they’re intentionally sabotaging their company’s AI rollout
AI
Gen Z workers are so fearful AI will take their job they’re intentionally sabotaging their company’s AI rollout
By Fortune EditorsApril 8, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.