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Patrick encapsulated the ethos of this approach: “I'm a guy in his pajamas with a checkbook. Do you want the money? Yes or no? They always say yes.” By removing red tape, they empowered scientists to pursue their ideas without delay, focusing on what mattered most—innovation and impact.
Impact and Innovations Fuelled by Fast Grants
In its first seven months, Fast Grants distributed over 200 grants, nearly one per day. These grants spurred significant breakthroughs across multiple areas of COVID research, including vaccine development, immunology, and genetic testing. One notable achievement was the development of the saliva-based COVID-19 test known as SalivaDirect by Yale researchers.