The international experts spent three days immersed in the initiative’s mission, projects, and research.
The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of Pioneer Science met in Rio de Janeiro to deepen its understanding of the philanthropic initiative’s activities and provide the executive team with diverse perspectives that will contribute to the organization’s strategy for the coming years. The focus remains on fostering frontier science in Brazil by supporting research and education.
The group’s agenda included presentations by the Pioneer Science team on the current landscape of each area, as well as visits to Hospital Glória D’Or and the laboratories of the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), where the Board learned firsthand about the innovative projects and studies under development.
“The overall inaugural Pioneer Science Board experience was illuminating, substantive, collaborative, productive and enjoyable. The possibilities for expanding scientific impact – through innovative people and research across Brazil and beyond – are exciting to consider. I look forward to working closely with all of the team and with fellow Pioneer Science board members.”, says Maura McGinnity, SAB member.
The presence of the SAB reinforces Pioneer Science’s commitment as a philanthropic organization, strengthening collaboration, credibility, and the scientific impact of its actions. It also marks the beginning of a series of meetings for ongoing strategic guidance.
MEET THE SAB
The group is composed of six international experts in philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and science:
Bruce Fetzer
Chemical engineer and philanthropist with over 40 years of experience leading nonprofit organizations. He served as President of the John E. Fetzer Memorial Trust and Vice President of Finance at the John E. Fetzer Institute, supporting global programs in metascience, emotional intelligence, and relational care.
Carlos J. Bustamante
Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, Physics, and Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. A biophysicist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), he is recognized for pioneering studies on molecular motors and protein folding.
Maura McGinnity
Vice President of Major Gifts and Strategic Initiatives at theLucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. With more than 25 years of experience in philanthropy and institutional strategy, she has held leadership roles at the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University.
Marcela Carena
Executive Director of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada. A particle physicist, her research explores the origin of matter and mass in the universe, the nature of dark matter, and the relationship between particle physics and quantum information.
Vanderlei Bagnato
Professor at the Institute of Physics of São Carlos (University of São Paulo, USP) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University. Ph.D. from MIT, he is an international reference in atomic physics, optics, and laser applications in health, with research in Bose-Einstein condensation, quantum turbulence, and Photodynamic Therapy.
William Newsome
The Harman Family Professor of Neurobiology and founding director of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford University. A leading neuroscientist, his research has elucidated the neural mechanisms underlying visual perception and decision-making, and he co-chaired the committee responsible for the U.S. BRAIN Initiative.
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