Allen's Ebola Legacy: $5 Million Investment Saves Lives During COVID-19 Pandemic
Late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen invested $5 million to develop advanced biocontainment capabilities after the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This technology, called Containerized Biocontainment System (CBCS), was designed by MRIGlobal with public-private partnerships from the US Department of State and the Paul G. Allen Foundation.
The CBCS is a reusable, flight-ready biocontainment unit that can roll on and off aircraft to transport critically ill patients while maintaining both biocontainment integrity and safe flight conditions. In 2020, this system played a crucial role in evacuating 14 US citizens from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, which was under quarantine due to COVID-19.
The CBCS received an R&D 100 Award for Innovation in 2016, recognizing its significance in global health emergencies. MRIGlobal had designed and delivered four CBCS units by February 2020, with all units being used by the US government.