Google and Facebook have awarded $33 million in prizes in an effort to support research aimed at extending life and curing diseases.

Termed the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the award gives $3 million to 11 winners in the first year. Afterwards, the award will include $3 million to five annual recipients. According to a statement by the foundation that administers the program, the awards are given to scientists who are pursuing research "aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life."

 The first round of awards was given to professors from Princeton University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands and Harvard Medical School.

"Our society needs more heroes that are scientists and engineers," said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. "One of the things that is fundamentally different is the winners are going to pick the winners going forward."

Cornelia Bargmann, who has done pioneering work on neural circuits and behavior at Rockefeller University, reacted with surprise when she learned she had received the award.

"I had to sit down on the floor for a while," she said. "I thought it must be a practical joke or a Nigerian scam. The scale of this is so outsized; I think it will have a huge impact on the life sciences."

The award was created by Genentech Inc. and Apple Inc. Chairman Art Levinson, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, 23andMe Inc. Chief Executive Officer Anne Wojcicki, Mail.ru Group Ltd. Co-founder Yuri Milner, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Zuckerberg's physician wife Priscilla Chan.

Anyone can nominate a candidate online to be considered for the award, which can be shared among an unlimited number of scientists. There are no age restrictions for nominations.

"Priscilla and I are honored to be part of this," Zuckerberg said. "We believe the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences has the potential to provide a platform for other models of philanthropy, so people everywhere have an opportunity at a better future."