The q & a states that they will let the organization behind the project run it if they can show some things like being fiscally responsible and having shown the ability to run a project like this in the past. We have done that so there are no worries there.

We have made the top 25 this year. Our only concern now is that people will realize what an impact we are really trying to make. Undergrads can harness all the lab space in all the universities around the country, thats alot. They are also going to be working on aging, and that is the corner stone of disease. Nobody else is doing either of these things right now.

Its innovative, nobody has ever done it before. Its positive, and most of all it will definently with out a grain of doubt have a broad deep wide reach greatly beneficial impact.

American Express will be proud to put their name on this.

There is a HUGE PROBLEM with American Express’ Members Project.

I just submitted a proposed project to this competition. Throughout their site they prominently display the following: “Your ideas. Your decision. Our money.” However, as I found out from a colleague after I submitted my project, tthe “Terms and Conditions” contradict their statement about “your ideas,” etc. In fact, once you submit a project all ideas and intellectual property are owned by American Express. They could take your project and do it without you.

I found this to be shockingly sleazy. My professional work is tied to my project, and this presents a huge problem, as I’m sure it does for anyone who has submitted a project.

I wrote to American Express to withdraw my project and they said they couldn’t do it, even though they clearly state in the Q & A’s that you can withdraw a project.

This whole situation does sit well with me (nor my legal representatives).

Best of luck to all. I hope all of you can enact your ideas without American Express.