The College of Pittsburgh receives a $ 25 million reward from the Henry L. Hillman Basis for analysis within the life sciences

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The University of Pittsburgh received a $ 25 million grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation to improve its research in the life sciences.

“This gift is an investment in the University of Pittsburgh, but also in the people and potential of our region,” said University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “It will drive innovation in vision care and, even more, fuel Pittsburgh’s rise as a world leader in life science research.”

In total, approximately $ 20 million of the gift will be used for research and development in eyesight care through the Eye & Ear Foundation, which supports the ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat departments of the University of Pittsburgh. In particular, the gift will help improve access to visual aids for underserved communities through outreach and face-to-face care. Help build and staff a visionary “street laboratory” to test new treatments and therapies in safe, controlled, virtual and real environments. It will also support research into groundbreaking programs such as biomedical solutions for corneal blindness. This also includes financing the training of local residents to fill jobs in the visionary workforce.

“We strive to help patients. It begins with identifying conditions in patients that flow into the use of research to find solutions, develop new therapies and devices, commercialize those advances, and ultimately bring them back to the patient by providing access to all “, so Dr. José-Alain Sahel, director of the eye clinic, said. “Nobody can do that. It requires teams of clinicians, scientists, educators, rehabilitation professionals, and patients themselves to deal with issues that have not yet been resolved. Only then can you develop answers. “

Approximately $ 1 million will be allocated to further life sciences planning under the direction of Dr. Anantha Shekhar, Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences, and John and Gertrude Petersen, Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, $ 3 million will be allocated to support the LifeX launch accelerator and $ 1 million will go towards vaccine research.

“The Henry L. Hillman Foundation dates back to the 1960s and has focused much of its attention on improving the quality of life in the area,” said Foundation President David Roger. “Pittsburgh is in a unique position to be the world leader in life sciences, and this grant will help create a corridor that will fuel the post-pandemic economy and breakthrough discoveries – for the benefit of local residents – for those to come Creates decades. “