Neurodegenerative disorders are complex and debilitating. And the burden is immense. Collectively, they affect more than 50 million people worldwide, costing the global economy an estimated $5 trillion in combined costs for medical expenses, lost productivity and uncompensated caregiver hours. Neurodegenerative diseases are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year and in 2021 alone, led to over 36 million years of healthy life lost. As life expectancy continues to rise, the number of individuals impacted is expected to skyrocket, intensifying the urgency of addressing this public health crisis.

Despite billions of dollars invested in research, there are still no cures for neurodegenerative diseases. Existing treatments are limited, and often come with significant side effects. In most cases, these treatments only address the symptoms rather than slowing or stopping disease progression. Neurodegenerative disease research remains largely siloed, with a narrow focus on individual diseases. This leads to many missed opportunities to apply discoveries across the broader neurodegenerative disease landscape. To keep pace with the escalating crisis, transformative approaches are urgently needed to drive disruptive innovation in the field.

Over the past two decades, scientific discovery has advanced at an unprecedented pace. In neurodegenerative research, disruptive technologies—including  advanced neuroimaging, high resolution microscopy, next generation “-omics” assays, and wearable sensors—have generated vast, multifaceted datasets across diverse populations. These datasets have the potential to revolutionize the field, driving new breakthroughs, enhancing precision, and enabling previously impossible studies. However, fully leveraging these rich data resources requires a new approach—one that integrates AI-based tools with a highly trained, tech-savvy scientific workforce. By changing the way research is done, we can de-risk drug discovery, fulfil the promise of personalized medicine, and unlock enormous global economic opportunities. Revolutionizing how brain research is done will have far-reaching impacts for society. The McKinsey Health Institute estimates that improved brain health will unlock $26 trillion in global economic opportunity.

The 10,000 Brains Project was founded under the guiding principle that innovation can only be accelerated through a critical evaluation of the status quo and a proactive strategy to overcome the barriers that have hindered progress in the field. Through our combined expertise in data science and the integration of multiple neurodegenerative disorders, The 10,000 Brains Project is uniquely positioned to steward the field toward new breakthroughs.

Our approach is informed by an extensive review of the neurodegeneration research field. We commissioned the Milken Institute’s Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) to conduct this review in 2024. Supplemental funding was generously provided by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation and the Robertson Foundation. The final report identifies several areas of opportunity for focused investment by the philanthropic sector.

read the full report

Over the next 10 years, The 10,000 Brains Project will bring together the greatest minds, the most extensive datasets, and the largest pool of philanthropic investment to date to address four key priorities for realizing technology-driven precision medicine in neurodegeneration.

Priority 1: Improving Access to High-Quality Data Sets

Access to high-quality datasets is a major barrier in neurodegeneration research, slowing progress in understanding for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Existing data sets are often scattered across different platforms, difficult to find, or too small to produce meaningful insights.

Priority 1 will bridge this gap by systematically mapping available datasets, expanding access to digitized brain tissue, and improving tools for remote data analysis. Additionally, Priority 1 will fund new data collection projects that are highly representative of the global neurodegenerative patient population.

Specifically, Priority 1 will encompass the following programs:

Data Landscaping Program to map and catalog available neurodegeneration research data. This program will support the creation of a Data Librarian Service Desk to help researchers find the data they need. The catalog will be regularly updated to guide future data collection efforts.

Digital Brain Banking Program to digitize at least 5,000 neuropathology cases. This program will make critical brain tissue images more accessible for research.

Federated Data Analysis Program to allow researchers to analyze data remotely and securely. We will collaborate with key experts to drive the adoption of these tools across the research community.

New Datasets Funding Program to ensure the creation of 2-4 major datasets annually covering all types of neurodegeneration patient populations and are available for global research.

The programs in Priority 1 will transform data accessibility, helping researchers to uncover new insights and develop urgently needed treatments faster.
 
Priority 2: Expanding Expertise in Data Science and AI

Disruptive technologies such as AI are revolutionizing biomedical research, but many scientists lack the technical skills and support needed to harness these powerful tools. This gap is especially pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to technical expertise and training is limited.

Priority 2 will provide data science support and additional technical training for the next generation of scientists.

Specifically, Priority 2 will include the following programs:

AI Service Center Program to provide deep technical assistance to at least 50 research projects each year. Projects with global neurodegenerative disease applications will be prioritized, including the support of projects that are based in LMICs.

AI & Data Science Scholarship Program to expand the pipeline of talent in the neurodegeneration research field. We will launch new cohorts of postbaccalaureate-level scholars every 18 months, covering tuition for specialized bootcamps, certificate programs, and master’s degrees in AI and data science.

PhD & Postdoctoral Training Supplemental Funding Program to further deepen the talent pool in innovative technology applications for neurodegeneration research. We will issue open funding calls every 18 months to support these advanced scholars.

By bridging the technological skills gap and supporting global talent, these programs will drive faster, more innovative solutions for neurodegenerative diseases.
 
Priority 3: Mitigating the Ethical Concerns of AI Data Analysis

For innovative technologies to bring about rapid progress in neurodegeneration research, emerging ethical concerns around patient data privacy, bias, and informed consent must be addressed. Addressing these issues head-on is critical to building trust and ensuring responsible use. Patients, policymakers, researchers, and industry all play a role in shaping how these technologies are implemented, but progress will require merging these perspectives.

Priority 3 will proactively tackle these challenges by creating a consensus-driven ethical framework that promotes innovation while protecting patient rights.

Specifically, Priority 3 will involve the following programs:

Ethical Technology Roundtable to convene different stakeholders—patient advocates, regulators, researchers, and foundations—to identify and resolve key ethical issues in technology-driven neurodegeneration research.

AI Ethics Center to create a dedicated hub at a leading academic institution to focus on highly relevant research projects and develop practical solutions to the ethical challenges that emerge due to the growing use of innovative technologies in neurodegeneration research.

By ensuring that ethical oversight is integrated into technology-driven advancements, Priority 3 will build public trust, ensure fair and safe applications of various technologies, and accelerate responsible progress in the field.

 
Priority 4: Providing Targeted Funding for the Development of New Tools

Research leveraging innovative technologies, such as AI and large-scale data analysis, has historically been underfunded, particularly in neurodegeneration. Traditional funding models often prioritize more traditional methodologies over high-risk, high-reward approaches, leaving cutting-edge research without the necessary resources to thrive. As a result, promising advancements—such as AI-driven drug discovery, biomarker identification, and personalized treatment strategies—have been slow to reach their full potential.

Priority 4 will increase investment in these areas and equip the field with the computational resources needed to drive real-world progress.

Specifically, Priority 4 will incorporate the following programs:

Global Data Challenges to engage the solver community to tackle critical research questions—such as target identification, patient subgrouping, and early disease detection—in collaboration with existing data portals.

Computational Research Competitive Funding Program to support cutting-edge AI and data-driven projects that push the boundaries of neurodegeneration research.

Tools Repository to create a curated database of relevant, high-quality analytical tools, regularly updated and maintained, to help researchers analyze key data types and answer pressing scientific questions.

Venture Philanthropy Fund to develop an investment vehicle that will support cutting-edge technology-driven startups and innovations that are aligned with our philanthropic mission.

By fostering innovation, expanding computational resources, and providing sustained funding, these efforts will accelerate AI adoption in neurodegeneration research, driving faster discoveries and better patient outcomes.

[2] Feigin VL, Vos T, Nichols E, Owolabi MO, Carroll WM, Dichgans M, Deuschl G, Parmar P, Brainin M, Murray C. The global burden of neurological disorders: translating evidence into policy. Lancet Neurol. 2020 Mar;19(3):255-265. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30411-9. Epub 2019 Dec 5. PMID: 31813850; PMCID: PMC9945815.

[1] Nichols, E. and Vos, T. (2021), The estimation of the global prevalence of dementia from 1990-2019 and forecasted prevalence through 2050: An analysis for the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019. Alzheimer's Dement., 17: e051496. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.051496

[3] McKinsey Health Institute, The Brain Economy. Assessed February 5, 2025.