MemoryTell: A Legacy of Giving and Innovation.
At the heart of MemoryTell is a vision—one deeply rooted in the power of philanthropy, research, and clinical practice to transform lives. Our story is one of impact, inspired by a man whose generosity reshaped the world in ways few could have imagined.
Chuck Feeney: The man who gave it all away.
Chuck Feeney was no ordinary billionaire.
As the founder of Atlantic Philanthropies, he believed in giving while living, quietly donating his vast fortune to causes that could create a lasting impact. For decades, Feeney championed initiatives in education, public health, and social equity, always with the goal of addressing urgent global challenges.
His final big bet, Atlantic Fellows, the culmination of his life’s work—was to invest in people, ideas, and institutions that could build a better future.
Atlantic Philanthropies and the Birth of the Atlantic Fellows
The Atlantic Fellows program was one of Feeney’s boldest legacies; he envisioned a global network of change-makers — leaders dedicated to tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues, from health inequities to social injustice. These Fellows, currently numbering 1000 + in number and working across disciplines and borders, continue to drive progress long after Atlantic Philanthropies closed its doors.
GBHI: Reducing the Impact of Dementia
Among these transformative initiatives is the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), a program launched at the University of California, San Francisco (United States), and Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) with the mission of reducing the scale and impact of dementia and improving brain health worldwide.
Dementia is not just a medical condition—it’s a societal challenge that affects millions of individuals, families, and healthcare systems. GBHI trains leaders, funds groundbreaking research, and fosters collaboration across disciplines to bring innovative solutions to the forefront.
Atlantic Fellows at GBHI: A Commitment to Change
The Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health at GBHI embody Feeney’s vision of impact-driven leadership. One such Fellow, Corrina Grimes, has played a pivotal role in integrating research into practice.
With a background in healthcare policy and frontline service delivery, Corrina Grimes understands the critical need to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into tangible benefits for patients. Her work focuses on ensuring that research doesn't stay confined to academic papers but becomes a real-world tool for those with cognitive decline.
Brain Health Insights: Speech and Language Biomarkers
Another key figure in this movement is Atlantic Fellow Adolfo García, a cognitive neuroscientist whose work explores the intersection of language, communication, and brain health. Through his research, Adolfo Garcia has uncovered groundbreaking insights into how dementia affects linguistic abilities, and more importantly, the crucial role of speech and language as diagnostic biomarkers for neurodegeneration including dementia.
MemoryTell: From Research to Real-World Impact
At MemoryTell, we believe that research should not exist in isolation. Founded by Corrina Grimes, MemoryTell is dedicated to ensuring that breakthroughs in brain health translate into real-world impact.
In collaboration with Adolfo García and Fernando Johann—a materials science engineer with a deep passion for entrepreneurship, and teaching, as well as extensive experience in startups—we are driving innovation in dementia care. Together with a network of colleagues, we are delivering evidence-based solutions that bridge the gap between scientific discovery and frontline clinical practice, ensuring research leads to tangible benefits for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
Catalysed by Atlantic Fellows and GBHI, MemoryTell is advancing dementia care beyond the lab—into clinics, hospitals, and communities. From pioneering clinical programs to shaping policy advocacy, we are committed to transforming how dementia is diagnosed, treated and ultimately prevented.
The work of Chuck Feeney and Atlantic Philanthropies lives on through the visionaries, researchers, and practitioners who continue to push boundaries to advance fairer, healthier, more inclusive societies . And at MemoryTell, we are honoured to be part of that enduring legacy—bringing science, care, and compassion together in the pursuit of a world where brain health is a priority for all.