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Philanthropic Organizations

• The Gates Foundation
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• The Lynch Foundation
• The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
• The Marcus Foundation

The Alfred Mann Foundation

Founder: Alfred Mann

Alfred Mann, better known as Al Mann, is an entrepreneur who has delved into the aerospace industry. After a long stint as one of the key personalities in behind several aerospace companies, Alfred Mann took a step towards health electronics and healthcare by founding Pacesetters Systems, maker of cardiac pacemakers, in 1972.

Currently,Alfred Mann is at the helm of several aviation and health electronics companies:

• Mankind Corporation
• Second Sight
• Bioness
• Quallion, LLC
• Stellar Microelectronics
• Southern California Biomedical Council
• Eclipse Aviation

Alfred Mann has also launched several endeavors into philanthropy. In 1985, he founded the Alfred Mann Foundation.

Area of Interest: Bionic implants

More about the Alfred Mann Foundation and its Notable Projects/Programs:

The Alfred Mann Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life of people who suffer from medical disabilities through advancing medical research and developing bionic solutions. Much of the Foundation’s emphasis is bent on the field of medical engineering.

Since its inception, the Alfred Mann Foundation has made technological breakthroughs and contributions to the development of the following:

• Cochlear implants (1986) – The Foundation provided the funding necessary for the development of this device. Initial phase of the research was worked on by the University of California, San Francisco and the Research Triangle Institute. Today, people suffering from profound hearing loss have benefited from this technology.
• Glucose sensors – research for this technology began in 1985. Eleven years later, the Foundation collaborated with the Medical Research Group in further developing the technology. Presently, the development is nearing clinical trial stage.
• Neuromuscular stimulation - research began in 1988, which was funded by the Alfred Mann Foundation and the National Health Institute. The grant was given to aid the joint research of Illinois Institute of Technology and Queens University in Canada. The stimulator is a magnetically-powered device that aids impaired muscles and nerves.

Other research in the field of advanced bionics led to the development of the following:

• Artificial sight
• Chronic pain control
• Urinary incontinence treatment
• Specifically-engineered medical batteries
• Durable and efficient pacemakers

Trivia:
Aside from the Alfred Mann Foundation, Alfred Mann also established the Alfred Mann Institute of Biomedical Engineering at several universities in the United States. Fully funded, these institutes serve as incubators for medical devices designed for commercialization.