Science advances when partners commit — deeply, consistently, over time.

By Stephanie Miller

Behind every Keystone Symposia meeting is a community of partners who share our mission to accelerate life science discovery by connecting scientists across disciplines, for the benefit of society. Continued discovery depends on deep, lasting relationships — with organizations who've invested in our mission across decades, compounding their impact with every gift.  

Meet the Partners 

The following 15 partners have contributed $1 million+ each, tangibly demonstrating their ongoing commitment to this mission. 

• • • Amgen
    • Bayer AG 
    • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    • Genentech
    • GlaxoSmithKline
    • Merck
    • Novartis
    • Novo Nordisk
    • Pfizer
    • National Cancer Institute
    • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
    • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
    • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
      
    • National Institute of General Medical Sciences
    • Office of AIDS Research, NIH  
      

Every partner offers a unique answer to the question, “Why Keystone?” But whether pharma or biotech, private foundation or government agency- all share a common goal: invest in Keystone's mission to move science — and the people who drive it — forward. 

On average, our Million-Dollar Club members have partnered with us for over 26 years, contributing 100+ times across 8 research areas. 

Genentech & Amgen: Three Decades, Uninterrupted

Why they keep believing: Both partners exist to turn discovery into patient impact — the exact translational bridge Keystone Symposia strives to support by connecting scientists across disciplines to accelerate applications that benefit society. 

Origin story: Genentech and Amgen have supported Keystone Symposia since 1997 — as far back as our giving records go — making them two of the longest-standing partners in our history.

Their long commitment: 

• • Uninterrupted annual giving for 30 consecutive years  
  • Across more than 200 meetings combined
  • Impacting nearly every discipline Keystone convenes 
  • Genentech: 2,098 total attendees = 39 organizers, 281 program faculty, 213 short talk presentations  
  • Amgen: 1,606 total attendees = 10 organizers, 156 program faculty, 44 short talk presentations 
    

Gates Foundation: Investment Scaled with Impact 

Why they keep believing: The Foundation’s mission “to create a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life,” maps closely onto both the concentration of their giving (HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, vaccine science) and Keystone's own history — including our early role convening the first open international AIDS conference in 1984.

Origin story: The Foundation's giving history with Keystone Symposia began in 2002, with an early focus on vaccine science and infectious disease.

Their long commitment: 

• • 24+ year partnership
  • Largest single donor in the Million Dollar Club by total giving
  • Average gift size has grown roughly 2.8x from early years
  • Donations concentrated across 121 named meetings, heavily weighted toward Infectious Diseases and Immunology — consistent with the Foundation's global health mission
  • 511 total participants = 28 organizers, 92 program faculty, 56 short talks, 335 attendees

We are profoundly grateful to the Gates Foundation for 26 years of partnership and for helping Keystone Symposia bring the world’s infectious disease and immunology researchers together in pursuit of healthier lives for all. 

Novo Nordisk: Partnership Grown with Purpose 

Why they keep believing: Novo Nordisk’s core disease areas (metabolism, diabetes, and cardiovascular) sit squarely inside Keystone's conference portfolio.

Origin story: With $1500-3,500 gifts in support of specific meetings in 1997, the company’s commitment has steeply increased over the last 3 decades, as reflected in their current Champion level sponsorship status. As scientific ambition in chronic disease has scaled, so has their investment in the cross-disciplinary forums where that science is advanced.

Their long commitment: 

• • 30-year giving history  
  • Annual gift size growing more than thirtyfold from early years to recent years — the most dramatic growth trajectory in the Million-Dollar Club 
  • A strategic giving pattern that closely aligns with their area of focus 
  • 1247 total attendees = 11 organizers, 46 program faculty, 50 short talk presentations

Compound Effect  

Join the Club   

Thank you to our Million-Dollar Club partners whose commitment to Keystone Symposia has advanced scientific discovery in tangible ways. Sustained support is the smartest investment in science's future — these partners prove it. We invite you to join the club at any level. Your investment compounds over time.

Learn about sponsorship opportunities HERE or Contact development@keystonesymposia.org

Together, we are not just sustaining science- we are advancing it, for the benefit of all.