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• Case | HBS Case Collection | September 2019

  Dementia Discovery Fund

  Richard G. Hamermesh, Kathy Giusti and Sarah Gulick

  The case is set in March 2019, and tells the story of the founding of the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF). The idea for the fund began in 2015, when then-Prime Minister David Cameron spoke about the importance of making breakthroughs in dementia research, and pledged money from the UK government for research. This in turn led to the search for a venture capital (VC) firm that could lead manage a fund, and the selection of SV Health to do that, including having Kate Bingham as a managing partner. The case describes the social and scientific needs for more dementia research, as well as the fundraising and initial team building of the fund. After the fund grows beyond the expected size, the case describes the hiring of a CEO, and asks what the next investment for the fund should be: a start-up that might soon be able to launch clinical trials, or an early-stage company with promising new research?

  Keywords: Venture Capital; Investment Funds; Mission and Purpose; Recruitment; Health Care and Treatment; Pharmaceutical Industry; Financial Services Industry; Boston; Massachusetts; London; England;

  Citation:

  Hamermesh, Richard G., Kathy Giusti, and Sarah Gulick. "Dementia Discovery Fund." Harvard Business School Case 820-045, September 2019.  View Details

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• Teaching Note | HBS Case Collection | July 2019

  Intermountain Healthcare: Pursuing Precision Medicine

  Richard G. Hamermesh, Robert S. Huckman and Julia Kelley

  Citation:

  Hamermesh, Richard G., Robert S. Huckman, and Julia Kelley. "Intermountain Healthcare: Pursuing Precision Medicine." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 820-019, July 2019.  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | April 2018 (Revised September 2018)

  Impact Investing for Cancer

  Richard G. Hamermesh and Matthew G. Preble

  It is early 2018, and Emily Park, managing director of impact for the Abreu Family Office, is meeting the next day with Tomás and Maria Abreu to discuss the various ways in which the Abreus can allocate a planned $100 million to make a meaningful difference in cancer patients’ lives. Park has spent the past few months working on this project and has uncovered a multitude of options, from supporting high-performing disease-focused organizations through venture philanthropy; to investing in a fund or directly into ventures and possibly earning a good return on investment in the process; to helping address system-wide issues such as the better organization and funding of clinical trials. As she prepares to present her findings to the Abreus, she wonders which one(s) will spark their interest as the way to have the most meaningful impact, and what implications their ultimate decision will have on the Family Office in terms of its capital outlays, structure, staffing, and many other categories.

  Keywords: impact investing; Investment; Health Disorders; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Decision Choices and Conditions;

  Citation:

  Hamermesh, Richard G., and Matthew G. Preble. "Impact Investing for Cancer." Harvard Business School Case 818-068, April 2018. (Revised September 2018.)  View Details

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