September 15, 2020 -- Sherlock Biosciences has formed the 221b Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to assisting in the eradication of COVID-19, while supporting racial and gender diversity in STEM.
Through the foundation, intellectual property associated with the company's CRISPR-based technology will be available for projects related to COVID-19. Proceeds from any company or third-party sales of CRISPR COVID-19 products will support racial and gender diversity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines.
The 221b Foundation will be led by Rahul Dhanda, co-founder, president and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences, and Mark Jefferson, assistant dean for community engagement and equity at Harvard Law School.
The foundation's first partner is Scratch, a programming language and online community designed for young people ages 8-16. Scratch is committed to helping young people think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. The organization will dedicate its funding to programs that benefit young women and girls and Black, Latinx, and Native American communities.