Can financial engineering cure cancer? It is an outlandish question, and many might find it distasteful, but the answer might be "yes". It is worth trying to find out. This is the argument of Andrew Lo, a brilliant and entrepreneurial finance professor from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Mangement, who convened a conference to float his idea for a cancer-fighting "super fund" this weekend, following a tour to London to present his ideas.

Financial engineering failed dramatically in the financial crisis, but maybe it could be used to help persuade institutions to invest in cancer research. Professor Andrew Lo of MIT's Sloan School of Management explains how to Long View columnist John Authers.

In a question and answer with Business Insider's Rob Wile, Professor Lo speaks about the state of the markets, why investing must now be treated like exercise, and what we can expect from his latest work.

Professor Andrew Lo and MIT colleagues, Jose-Maria Fernandez and Roger Stein, have proposed the creation of a $30bn “megafund” that would invest in early-stage biomedical research and drug development. Investing in as many as 150 experimental compounds at one time increases the chances that a few of the ventures will succeed, and generate enough profit to make up for those that fail. Prof Lo recently talked to the FT about his idea.

A proposed megafund would combine debt securities with equity investments to help pay for high-risk biomedical research.

Andrew Lo, professor, hedge fund manager, and director of the financial engineering lab at MIT’s Sloane School of Management discusses how the financial markets can play a key role in solving the greatest global challenges. Including finding a cure for cancer.

MIT finance professor and hedge fund manager Andrew W. Lo has another idea about how to further the cause — by harnessing the power of financial wizardry. Lo wants to create a “megafund” that would raise billions of dollars for early-stage research in cancer drugs.

MIT finance researchers say a diversified ‘megafund’ of securities could help the industry deliver new products to consumers.

A “proof-of-concept” study applying financial portfolio theory to U.S. biomedical research funding shows that the nation’s health might gain the largest benefit by increasing funding on heart, lung, and blood diseases, and might gain the quickest benefit by increasing spending on mental illness research.

Translational research - the point at which general scientific knowledge starts to be applied to addressing a specific disease or condition - is the first step on the path to developing a new drug. But traditional investors in translational research (large- and medium-cap biopharmaceutical companies and life science-focused venture capital funds) are becoming increasingly risk averse in the face of escalating challenges in the drug development process. FasterCures recently hosted a Financial Innovations Lab to examine business models and financial instruments that can improve the risk/return ratio for early-stage investors. In this session you'll hear from experts who have designed and implemented new models like leveraged funds, research-based obligations and collaborative funding. If we can find a way to close the funding gap for translational research, we can get one step closer to urgently needed treatments.

Professor Andrew Lo and his recent research are highlighted in this article.