Qualcomm Founder Gives $5M to Power AI Health Research

The inventor of a revolutionary algorithm that transformed modern communication is now betting big on AI's power to transform medicine.

Andrew Viterbi, co-founder of Qualcomm and creator of the famous Viterbi Algorithm, has donated $5 million to Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Jolla, California. The gift establishes an endowed chair at the institute's Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, where researchers are using machine learning to decode complex biological mysteries and speed up the search for new treatments.

The center brings together experts in AI, statistics, genetics and computational biology to find hidden patterns in massive amounts of health data. Recently, they launched a tool that automates genome sequencing analysis, letting scientists examine entire genomes from hundreds of patient samples simultaneously.

Dr. Yuk-Lap (Kevin) Yip, a global leader in computational biology, will serve as the inaugural chair holder. His work uses advanced analytics and machine learning to pull insights from complex biological data, accelerating progress in disease research and precision medicine.

Viterbi's investment reflects his lifelong commitment to pushing technological boundaries. His famous algorithm finds the most likely sequence of hidden events from observed data, a method now used in everything from cell phones to speech recognition. Now he's applying that same innovative spirit to health research.

"Biomedical research and collaboration generate momentum used to advance computing and artificial intelligence," Viterbi said. "It's my hope that this gift will enable the Center for Data Science and AI to empower leading minds to create the breakthroughs that will advance human health."

The Ripple Effect

This investment comes as AI is revolutionizing how scientists approach medicine. What once took years of painstaking lab work can now happen in months or even weeks thanks to machine learning tools that spot patterns humans might miss.

The endowed chair ensures Sanford Burnham Prebys can attract top scientific talent for generations to come. Dr. David Brenner, the institute's president and CEO, says the center is "unlocking the power of artificial intelligence to drive discoveries at a scale and speed once unimaginable."

The institute, celebrating its 50th anniversary, focuses on cancer, heart disease, neurological conditions, and metabolic disorders. By combining traditional biomedical research with cutting-edge AI tools, scientists there are redefining what's possible in the search for cures.

From inventing algorithms that power our smartphones to funding the AI that could cure diseases, Viterbi continues to shape the future of human possibility.