The University of Michigan’s Medical School has received a transformative $25 million donation from Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling to enhance its Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics. This generous gift marks the first time a department at U-M has been named, aligning it with a pioneering few medical school basic science departments nationwide. The Board of Regents officially approved this naming on October 17.
Omenn, a key figure in U-M’s computational medicine and bioinformatics growth since his tenure as the first executive vice president for medical affairs from 1997 to 2002, stated, “Medicine and public health are being transformed with the power of large datasets, new technologies, and the analytical prowess of deep learning models and artificial intelligence.” He holds prestigious roles as the Harold T. Shapiro Distinguished University Professor and more.
The donation will establish the Michael A. Savageau Department Chair of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics and create an endowed fund. An additional $5 million will support up to five new endowed research professorships. Brian Athey, the founding chair, emphasized the gift’s potential to recruit leading faculty and advance AI and machine learning in health care.
These funds will also fuel the CCMB Interdisciplinary Collaboration Fund, promoting partnerships between basic scientists and clinical investigators, particularly within the Department of Internal Medicine. The Omenn DCMB Novel AI Faculty Recruitment and Retention Fund will receive $5 million, with $2.5 million allocated for advanced computing resources.
The department’s educational mission will benefit through the Bioinformatics Graduate Program Endowed Fund, which will support Master of Science and Ph.D. programs. This includes fellowships, pipeline programs, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities with industry and national science forums.
Omenn and Darling, known for their philanthropic efforts, have also contributed to institutions like Reed College, the Hastings Center, and Harvard Medical School, furthering their commitment to advancing health care and education.
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