Ben Andrew

UPDATE: As we approach our two-year anniversary of launching @RenPhilanthropy, we plan to write more about how we hope to impact the world of philanthropic capital. Would love feedback and reactions (this will continue to be an evolving thesis as we keep building and learning).

Stoked this is finally out! We ask: how can we simulate the brain from the bottom up? It's not sufficient to grab the connectome and wire it up in silico! We need 1) ultrastructure 2) (causal) calibration data 3) functional data. Then we can build a simulation compiler. 1/

A big day @RenPhilanthropy as we launch our largest programs to date: using AI to more rapidly diagnose early reading difficulties, such as dyslexia, and speech errors, and get learners back to track. Thanks to @WaltonFamilyFdn, the program has $40M in anchor funding to start.

🇯🇵 Meet the nine exceptional individuals who will define the next decade of breakthrough innovation as the Big if True Science Accelerator Japan cohort, in partnership with the Cabinet Office of Japan. Meet the Cohort: 🧵 1/10

If you want to launch a startup, lots of programs provide mentorship, networking, and fundraising support. But if you want to launch a bold new research program, the same hasn't always been true. In our blog today, @jddwor makes the case for research accelerators.

Reminder that abstracts for our $10.5M AI for Math fund, supported by XTX Markets, are due Monday, March 30th! renaissancephilanthropy.org/ai-for-math-fu…

We are delighted to welcome @WalterAKerr as a Fellow at @RenPhilanthropy where he will work on deploying digital tools to unlock healthcare accountability in the U.S. With a career that spans public service, driving advocacy campaigns, and growing startups, Walter is now working with cities and states to bring an end to predatory medical billing. Get in touch at info@renphil.org. Hear more from Walter about this work → youtu.be/1cTspCcW8LU

Q for scientists & researchers: what percentage of the most consequential research in your field is actually getting funded? Are funders identifying the areas where their support might do the most good? (Quick 🧵)

Super excited about this Horizon Scanning project with @ARIA_research @RenPhilanthropy. You can help! Yes, you! We'll be launching more questions in the next few weeks and we need your forecasts: metaculus.com/tournament/hor…

We are big fans of forecasting communities, which remain an under-utilized tool. A great way to get involved:

@IAmSamFin @EvidenceOpen @RareDiseases very cool! but quick question: why only 3,000 diseases? would love to connect you with Sunitha: #sunitha-malepati" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">renaissancephilanthropy.org/our-team#sunit…

Excited to share this collaboration between @EvidenceOpen and @RareDiseases that I've been helping in part to spearhead (1/4): rarediseases.org/national-organ…

Check out the primer: renaissancephilanthropy.substack.com/p/why-sci-phi-…

Admittedly biased, but I think you should read @RenPhilanthropy's new long-form editorial newsletter, which aims to answer one central question: how can visionary philanthropy enable breakthrough science and innovation? First article coming tomorrow!

@katclone was just there and do not object! boat architecture tour was lovely

Chicago is the most beautiful city in the US Sorry I love u Cambridge but your 3M homes look like they’re all falling apart and 3k/month studios have mold

The next step is systematic scaled data collection to create and make widely accessible to the relevant research communities a whole mouse brain connectome (and connectomes of other similarly sized volumes in, e.g., human brains, all with molecular annotations) – which can be done with optical technologies that @E11BIO has been developing along with others. The main thrust is making connectomics much more cheap, fast, high quality and informative so we can speed down cost learning curves. We plan to make it happen -- and fast. If you are able to help, let us know!

The key next level of progress will require massively scaling connectomics in the lab, and doing rigorous “structure to function” studies, some hinted at here: asimov.press/p/brains arxiv.org/abs/2510.15745 thetransmitter.org/computational-…

@JacquesCarolan @draparente @JerzySzablowski y'all should geek out some more together :)

@draparente @benwandrew 💯💯💯 they’re so cool !

Extremely excited to see Jerzy hone his ideas and help him achieve liftoff.

Congrats to @jamesfickel and his team for his investments in high-risk, high-return approaches to longevity, neuroscience and AI safety. I hope other successful entrepreneurs join him in taking big swings!