CALGARY – The University of Calgary has received $200 million in funding to help support medical research.
The announcement was made in a Tuesday morning news conference.
University of Calgary alumnus and international businessman Geoffrey Cumming is donating $100 million, while the Government of Alberta is committing another $100 million in matching funding over 10 years.
Officials say at $200 million, it’s one of the largest single investments in medical research to a Canadian university.
The Faculty of Medicine has been renamed the Cumming School of Medicine in honour of Geoffrey Cumming.
The funding is targeted at brain and mental health studies and in research of infections, inflammation and chronic diseases.
Cumming says he hopes his gift will help improve the health of Albertans and the global community.
“When you go into the labs and spend time with medical researchers, you find incredibly talented individuals,” says Cumming. “Bright and driven, they are capable of making important advances into diseases and disorders where we currently have only limited understanding.”
“This gift is about attracting more of the world’s best researchers to Alberta,” adds Cumming. “To inspire and challenge them to make significant medical advances of benefit to Alberta and to the whole world.”
The University of Calgary says the donation will provide students, researchers and postdoctoral scholars to participate in leading-edge research and train with the best minds
“Our government is proud to be a part of this initiative,” says Premier Dave Hancock. “The Cumming School of Medicine will attract top medical students and researchers to Alberta and will make a difference for patients here and around the world.”
More than 2,400 students are enrolled in the Cumming School of Medicine. The school has seven research institutes, more than $140 million in annual sponsored research and employs more than 3,500 people.
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