NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Canada's Azrieli Foundation today announced it has gifted the Hebrew University of Jerusalem C$10 million (US$8 million) to create the Azrieli Center for Stem Cell and Genetic Research.
The new center will be home to one of the largest repositories of stem cells carrying genetic diseases and chromosomal disorders in the world, the foundation said in a statement. Scientists at the center will study Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, hereditary diabetes, and Fragile X syndrome. The foundation said it selected the Hebrew University of Jerusalem following an extensive process to identify leading researchers and labs studying Fragile X syndrome.
The gift will help expand and redevelop the research facility and provide ongoing operational support for the center. The gift will also fund Israeli doctoral students, junior research faculty, and Canadian post-doctoral students.