NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City said today it plans to use a $75 million donation to expand its molecular oncology, genomics, and personalized cancer research and clinical programs, and to unify its core research activities into one center.
The Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, named after the foundation that provided the $75 million gift, will focus on research into precision medicine techniques and then translating those discoveries into patient care.
The Meyer Cancer Center will engage a range of specialists, including pathologists, surgeons, bioinformaticians, and others, who will be spread across Weill Cornell's research and clinical facilities.
Weill Cornell said it plans to use the funding to enhance its core research areas, including cancer genomics and computational biology, as well as its cancer biobank. The center also plans to use the gift to continue its efforts to recruit researchers and clinicians and to provide seed funding for innovative research projects.
Weill Cornell Professor Lewis Cantley, who will direct the Meyer Cancer Center, said in a statement that the gift will enable the center to study new treatments based on individual tumors, and to "purchase the necessary technology and recruit the very best talent to carry out this vital work."