Transformative Ideas Start with “What If...”

The “What If…” Awards for Creative Medical Research

The “What If…” Awards provide funding to creative scientists who dare to ask unconventional questions – those that challenge prevailing paradigms and have the potential to open new frontiers in health and medicine.

Our Approach

Powerful Questions

We look for visionary ideas across biomedical and health science – projects that could transform how we prevent, diagnose, and treat disease and care for patients facing health conditions.
Breaking Silos

We believe that curiosity and creativity thrive at the intersections – between disciplines, sectors, and communities. That’s why we encourage interdisciplinary, collaborative projects, community-engaged research, and approaches that span disease areas.
Meaningful Funding

Each “What If…” Award is $250,000 per year for two years. Awards are co-funded by an anonymous donor and other philanthropic sources. This highly competitive program is open to tenure-track faculty at all career levels from invited institutions.
Inspiration from History

Asking “What If…” is a timeless catalyst for progress. The name of our program was inspired by a visionary Hewlett-Packard ad campaign from the 1980s that invited the world to imagine the possibilities with technology-driven solutions.