The University of Michigan Medical Research Institute received a gift of $56 million from A. Alfred Taubman, a real estate developer and philanthropist from Michigan. The funds will be used for stem cell and cancer research.
U-M President, Mary Sue Coleman, says the money will go toward what is called high-risk research:
“If you don’t take risks for things that people don’t know are going to work, you’ll never get that potential reward. And he knows that everything’s not going to work, every idea is not going to work. But he’s willing to make a bet on the best scientists who are willing to try.”
This is one of several multi-million dollar donations Taubman has made to the university. He's given a total of $100 million toward medical science alone. Taubman says he wants his donation to be a part of finding cures:
“We have wonderful scientists here. The greatest, in my opinion. And the environment here is very positive. People are interested in making things happen and making change."
Taubman is the single largest donor to the University of Michigan.
-Bridget Bodnar, Michigan Radio News
