Our Story
Energy is fundamental to every function in the human body. At the center of that system are mitochondria, tiny but powerful organelles that sustain how we think, move, heal, and age. When they fail, the impact is systemic. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in every major category of disease, from neurodegeneration and metabolic disorders to cardiovascular, immune, and rare genetic conditions, including aging itself. Yet historically, less than 1% of philanthropic funding has been directed toward this field.
We are working to change that.
Countdown is a science-driven initiative advancing mitochondrial science and medicine across human health. While modern medicine is organized by organs and disease categories, the body functions as an integrated energy system. We focus on the shared biological engine connecting disease, resilience, and longevity: mitochondria.
We fund research across the full spectrum of human health — from rare genetic conditions to chronic disease and aging — supporting breakthroughs that transform how we understand, prevent, and treat disease at its root.
Our growing portfolio includes institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Emory University, University of Vienna, Minovia Therapeutics, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, spanning gene therapy, biomarkers, hypoxia research, and next-generation therapeutics like mitochondrial transplantation.
In under three years, Countdown has raised over $3M, including $1M+ in a single evening at our 2026 Evening of Energy Gala and deployed over $1.5M into research. We’ve united scientists, clinicians, philanthropists, and industry leaders to accelerate progress, awareness, access, and impact.
Countdown is not a distant finish line. It is the focused moment before a breakthrough, where everything aligns to fundamentally change how we understand and treat human health.
“Disease does not wait. Neither can we. The future of health will be defined by those willing to lead it, and the time to lead is now.”
Mitzi Solomon, President and Co-Founder
