URMC to Lead International Muscular Dystrophy Research Effort
December 2007 - University of Rochester Medical Center
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) recently announced it received a $7.1 million gift from New York developer and philanthropist Richard T. Fields for neurological research and care. The gift - the largest private donation for a specific disease program in the Medical Center's history - will create a research and clinical center of excellence for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD), a form of muscular dystrophy.
The new Fields Center for FSHD & Neuromuscular Research will be an international collaboration between the Department of Neurology and Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. The long-term, uninterrupted funding will accelerate what has generally been an uncoordinated and fragmented research effort, enabling URMC to become a national referral center for patients with the disease. Professor of Neurology Rabi Tawil, M.D., will direct the Fields Center.
"I want to express my deep gratitude to Richard Fields for his generous gift and his vision to bring together the people and resources necessary to find new ways to understand, treat and perhaps even cure this disease," said Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of URMC. "Our scientists strongly believe that new breakthroughs are within our grasp and Richard's support will help catalyze their efforts."
Fields is chairman and founder of Coastal Development, which co-developed the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel resorts in Florida. Fields also is an active philanthropist and serves on the boards of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Farm Aid, and is a major donor and supporter of the New York City Police Foundation and Good Shepherd Service.
Read the full article from URMC about Richard Fields' donation or an alternative publication about Richard Fields' donation in a press release