Retail pioneer donates $22M to launch
Taubman Medical Research Institute

A $22 million gift from A. Alfred Taubman to the U-M Health System has helped create a new institute with a mission of supporting research of the causes, treatment and prevention for a broad range of human diseases.

(Photo by Jack Kenny)

The A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, established in the U-M Medical School, is named for the retail pioneer whose gift creates an endowment to fund the institute and the research of individual Taubman Scholars.

"We are on the doorstep of amazing scientific discoveries that will dramatically improve the health of people around the world," says Taubman, who attended the University and has been one of the institution's most generous supporters, with lifetime giving of more than $60 million. "I am delighted to be able to support the important research of the University's talented scientists and physicians. I am especially proud that their groundbreaking work is being done right here in Michigan."

The first five Taubman Scholars have already been chosen from among the Medical School's top scientists. Each scientist will receive a three-year grant that will provide $200,000 per year. The scholars will also serve as advocates for research, by taking part in U-M efforts to educate the public about the importance of biomedical research, and of public and private support for such research.

"Philanthropy is the lifeblood of the world's great universities," says President Mary Sue Coleman. "Generous gifts such as Mr. Taubman's, which provide funds devoted specifically to seeding innovative research in perpetuity, are what ensure U-M's long-term ability to build and sustain its contributions to society. Moreover, in the process of conducting this research, we will also be able to train new generations of researchers and educators."

The new gift is a bold expression of faith in the potential impact of laboratory research, and in the strength of U-M's position in the life sciences, says Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Dr. Robert Kelch. "Mr. Taubman clearly sees the value of giving brilliant people the freedom they need to explore new avenues, and to pursue innovative ideas, in the quest to overcome major diseases or reduce the impact of disease on individuals and society," he explains. "We are grateful for his generosity and his vision."

The timing of the new gift is perfect, says Medical School Dean Dr. James Woolliscroft. "During a time when the federal government's financial support for research is wavering, philanthropic contributions are increasingly providing the support necessary to carry out promising research. At the same time, this gift allows us to recognize and support our distinguished investigators in a way that will surely help retain them at Michigan and attract future faculty as well."

The first five scholars are:

• Dr. Valerie Castle, a pediatric cancer specialist whose laboratory is working on strategies to make cancer cells "commit suicide" in the most common form of solid-tumor cancers in children. Castle, the Ravitz Foundation Professor of Pediatrics, also chairs the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases.

• Dr. Eva Feldman, a neurologist and scientist whose laboratory has already received $7 million from Taubman to fund research on the use of stem cells and other approaches to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Feldman heads the Program for Neurology Research & Discovery and is the DeJong Professor of Neurology.

• Dr. David Pinsky, a cardiologist and scientist who studies proteins involved in preventing the formation of clots inside blood vessels, which could lead to a new class of drugs to prevent strokes and heart attacks. Pinsky also is chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Ruth Professor of Internal Medicine and a director of the Cardiovascular Center.

• Yehoash Raphael, a cell biologist working on inner ear biology, who is developing ways to grow stem cells into the "hair cells" that are crucial to the ability to hear, and to implant them into deaf ears to replace damaged cells and restore hearing. Raphael is the Williams Professor of Otolaryngology and a member of the Kresge Hearing Research Institute.

• Dr. Max Wicha, a cancer researcher who reported the first finding in a solid tumor of cancer stem cells — the small number of cells within a tumor that fuel its growth. Wicha is the founding director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Distinguished Professor of Oncology.