Alexander Lazarev

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was formed in 1997 as the William H. Gates Foundation. In 1999, the foundation was renamed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust was created in January 2000 through the merger of the Gates Learning Foundation, which worked to expand access to technology through public libraries and the William H. Gates Foundation, which focused on improving global health. The foundation participates in preventive approaches and collaborative endeavors with government, philanthropic and not-for-profit partners. Priority is given to grants that leverage additional support and serve as a catalyst for long-term, systemic change. The foundation also provides funds to promote greater equity in global health, education and public libraries. Through their partnerships in communities across the US, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is committed to raising the high school graduation rate and helping all students, regardless of race or family income. The foundation is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC provides assurance, tax and advisory services. Its services include audit and assurance, consulting, deals, human resources, legal, tax, and family business. The firm also offers accountability, risk management, structuring, mergers and acquisitions, and performance and process improvement. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Buffalo, NY.

Part of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Boston Biomedical, Inc. is a developer of novel cancer therapeutics with the goal of significantly improving patient outcomes. The company is based in Norwood, MA. The company's most advanced research programs are focused on investigational agents that inhibit multiple oncogenic pathways, including cancer stemness pathways, and modifying immune responses. The company was founded by Chiang J. Li. Boston Biomedical was acquired by Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. on April 25, 2012 for $2,630 million.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern teaches worldwide experiential learning, urban engagement, and interdisciplinary research that meets global and societal needs. The University offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools.

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP provides legal services. It offers bankruptcy and restructuring, intellectual property services, employment law and commercial litigation services. The firm serves to construction, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, gaming and media and entertainment industries. The company was founded by Judge William Worthington, Edward W. Strong and John L. Stettinius in 1885 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH.

Quintus Technologies LLC designs, manufactures and installs presses. It specializes in the design, manufacture, installation, and support of high pressure systems for sheet metal forming and densification of advanced materials and critical industrial components. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Lewis Center, OH.

Sidley Austin LLP is a premier legal adviser with over 2000 lawyers in 20 offices worldwide. Sidley Austin is based in Chicago, IL and has subsidiaries in Germany, Hong Kong, United States, United Kingdom, and Japan. The firm has been providing superior client service for over 150 years and has a diverse group of legal professionals from many cultures who are dedicated to teamwork and collaboration. Sidley Austin has forged enduring relationships with the business community and serves a varied and high-caliber group of market leaders, many of whom are pioneers in their respective industries and professions. The firm is committed to pro bono service and its lawyers and staff devote more than 100,000 hours annually to serving those most in need.

Singulex, Inc. provides biotechnological research and development services. It also provides instrumentation and immunoassays with the requisite sensitivity and specificity to enable biomarker discovery and validation for drug safety and efficacy. The company was founded by Robert S. Puskas in November 1997 and is headquartered in Alameda, CA.

Quantum Dot Corp. develops and markets novel solutions for biomolecular detection. Its products and services employ quantum dot particles, tiny semiconductor crystals that emit light brightly in a range of sharp colors. The company was founded by Bala Manian in 1998 and is located in Hayward, CA.

Avure Technologies, Inc. engages in the food high pressure processing systems services. It processes fruits and vegetables, seafood, juices and beverages, guacamole and salsa, meats, ready to eat meals, wet salads and dips. The company was founded on September 26, 2005 and is headquartered in Erlanger, KY.

Target Discovery, Inc. provides scientific research services. It discovers, validates, and utilizes protein isoforms to improve clinical diagnosis and the management of diseases. The firm’s products address prostate cancer aggressiveness, and chemotherapy selection in breast and ovarian cancer. The company was founded by Luke V. Schneider in 1999 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA.