Columbia University will receive a $400 million donation to its medical school, specifically aimed at advancing biomedical science research and enhancing education, the school said in an Aug. 22 news release.
The gift from Roy and Diana Vagelos is the largest single donation ever to the New York City medical school, the statement said. The money will be used to expand the Vagelos-funded institute created last year.
Roy Vagelos, MD, is the former CEO of Merck & Co. He earned his bachelor's degree and his medical degree from Columbia University. His wife, Diana Vagelos, graduated from Barnard College, which is affiliated with Columbia University. The couple have donated a total of $900 million to the medical school, according to Bloomberg. This makes them the most generous donors in Columbia's history, the school said.
The $400 million gift will also go toward the construction of a new biomedical research building on the university's medical campus. The facility will be known as the Vagelos Innovation Laboratories and provide more than 55,000 square feet of new laboratory space.
Additionally, the gift "provides major support for the medical school's programs in cell engineering and gene therapy and will expand innovative collaborations that harness recent breakthroughs and new technologies," the school said.
More information about the donation is available here.