Priscilla Chan is in the early stages of trying to figure out how to rid the world of disease before the turn of the next century. She's hoping she can get Donald Trump on board.
Along with her husband, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, Chan has designated spending $3 billion in seed money over the next 10 years. The effort is called the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and Chan provided more details about its aims Thursday at the DealBook Conference in New York.
Chan was diplomatic when asked about how she viewed what is ahead with the president-elect.
"I think we, like most people here, are relieved that the campaign season is over," she said. "We're trying to figure out where the Trump administration policies are going to be and how we can work together."
The initiative is putting together a team of scientists looking to focus their work on eradicating all diseases. Cori Bargmann, incoming president of science for the initiative, pointed out that the plan isn't impossible, considering that 80 years ago there were virtually no antibiotics.
"Right now we are waiting anxiously to see what Trump will do," Chan said.
Correction: The couple never formally backed any candidate. An earlier version mischaracterized their public political support.