In Review
NEW INSTITUTE: Ernest Del Monte (right) accepts a memento from Ron Zarrella, chairman of the board of the Medical Center, to mark the announcement of the Ernest J. Del Monte Neuromedicine Institute. (Photo: Richard Baker)People with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, Parkinson鈥檚 disease, muscular dystrophy, stroke, and trauma to the brain and spinal cord will have a state-of-the-art center to turn to for research and treatment at Rochester, thanks to the second largest gift in the Medical Center鈥檚聽history.
An initial $10 million gift commitment made this spring by Ernest Del Monte, a life trustee of the University, and his wife, Thelma, is intended to launch Rochester鈥檚 neuromedicine program into a nationally recognized, comprehensive center for investigating neurological conditions. The gift is the first installment of what the Del Montes hope will be a $20 million commitment over time. The Ernest J. Del Monte Neuromedicine Institute will bring together Rochester鈥檚 interdisciplinary work in neuroscience at a time when many experts say more resources are needed to address an expected increase in the number of cases of debilitating neurological diseases in coming years.
Webster Pilcher, the chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical Center, will direct the new institute.
鈥淭he Medical Center has long been among the nation鈥檚 leaders in neuroscience, but this gift will allow us to amplify our federal research funding, teaching, and clinical programs for those suffering from some of today鈥檚 most debilitating illnesses, conditions that will afflict even more of us in the decades to come,鈥� said President Joel Seligman in announcing the gift.
No fewer than 19 departments at the Medical Center and six in Arts, Sciences & Engineering are involved in neuromedical research or clinical care.
鈥擪athleen McGarvey