Richard Mille: Meeting of the minds in support of the Paris Brain Institute

Richard Mille lends its full support to the Paris Brain Institute and the vital work being done to understand and treat the brain

Since the introduction of its first series of tourbillon watches in 2001, the Richard Mille brand has earned a reputation for cutting-edge innovative technology paired with a strong artistic and architectural dimension. Such sophisticated watchmaking requires not only the world’s best production techniques and R&D capabilities but also a hefty dose of brainpower. It’s only fitting, then, that the Richard Mille brand and its founder are active supporters of the Paris Brain Institute and its efforts to understand the brain and develop treatments for the diseases that affect it.

Created in 2010 by Professors Gérard Saillant, Yves Agid and Olivier Lyon-Caen, the Paris Brain Institute is an international scientific and medical research centre located in the heart of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in the French capital. It is ranked second among the 35 international institutions active in the field of neurological research, and was founded on the principle of personalised, preventive, participatory and predictive medicine.

“In terms of how well we understand the human brain, we are still in the Middle Ages,” says Saillant, who serves as the Institute’s president. “The Institute’s objective is to respond to a major challenge for the health of humanity: understanding and treating the brain. Thanks to technological advances, artificial intelligence, big data and the acceleration of progress in nanotechnology, we are witnessing exponential progress in our understanding of how our brains work. We need to step up our efforts, develop new skills and innovate, time and time again, in our research models.”

By supporting the Paris Brain Institute since 2012, Richard Mille is assisting over 700 researchers who are committed to improving the daily lives of one billion people and inventing treatments that could, tomorrow, change their everyday lives. Already they have established 170 ongoing clinical trials, incubated 50 start-ups, created 10 cutting-edge technology platforms and brought 10 innovative healthcare products to market.

“I was approached by my friend Jean Todt, who played a crucial part in the founding of the Institute, while Gérard Saillant convinced me of the need to support this cause, to play a part in it by supporting the institution in a lasting and reliable manner to ensure the means to make long-term projections and greater visibility,” explains Mille, whose own personal commitment includes becoming a member of the Institute’s Campaign Committee in 2019 and creating a Richard Mille Donors’ Club earlier this year.

“Just a few years ago, the Institute had to campaign to recruit scientists. Today, it receives unsolicited applications from top researchers seeking to come and work there. In my view, it is our responsibility to support this success and level of performance by helping the Institute function optimally. Supporting a structure as advanced and promising as the ICM is a noble cause. Lending our support to this research helps save lives and improve many existences.”

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