Billionaire investor Bill Ackman and his wife, designer Neri Oxman, are launching the Ackman Oxman Institute (AOI), a neuroscience and longevity center in Manhattan, anchored by a $400 million donation in Pershing Square stock. The couple announced the initiative on August 19, aiming to create a leading center for brain research, rehabilitation, recovery, human optimization, and longevity.
The idea for the institute was inspired partly by Oxman's mother, who died from Alzheimer’s disease. Initially, the couple hesitated due to high New York real estate costs and challenges in recruiting top scientists from universities. However, a 70% discount on real estate and shifting academic landscapes convinced them to proceed. Ackman cited universities becoming less attractive workplaces due to campus politics, antisemitism, and declining funding as factors influencing their decision.
The AOI represents a significant private investment in brain science outside traditional academic settings. Ackman believes the balance of power has shifted away from elite universities, which are losing talent amid internal challenges. This move underscores a growing trend of private initiatives stepping into research domains historically dominated by universities, potentially reshaping how neuroscience and longevity research is conducted.
Ackman and Oxman plan to make an additional donation to the institute, potentially matching or exceeding the initial $400 million gift. The AOI’s establishment marks a major development in private funding for brain research, with the project already securing a prime Manhattan location at a substantial discount, signaling a new model for scientific research investment.