In their quest to identify promising medical research that could benefit from their philanthropy, husband and wife (and venture capitalists) William and Janet J. considered a number of possibilities. Ultimately the couple's search led them to the MGH and David Scadden, MD, a highly respected physician-scientist who has studied the potential impact of stem cells on medicine for 15 years. Dr. Scadden directs the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CRM) at the MGH, where research staff are making exciting progress in harnessing stem cells to replace damaged tissues and organs.
Fueled by their admiration for Dr. Scadden and their desire to support groundbreaking research with significant implications for health care, Mr. and Mrs. J. made a gift of $500,000 as seed money to establish the Innovation Fund for Stem Cell Research at the MGH. Their goal is to raise $10 million and they are actively and successfully recruiting like-minded individuals to join them in supporting the fund.
“We are already seeing that this philanthropic model is very attractive to other venture capitalists,” reports Mrs. J. “They represent a new group of donors to the MGH who believe, as we do, that the private sector needs to play a major role in funding this important research.”
|
