UCLA received a $120 million donation to kick-start its new immunology research center , which has big goals to create life saving vaccines and cure devastating diseases like cancer. The funding was provided by spine surgeon and inventor Gary Michelson and his wife Alya. The couple hopes the gift will keep on giving when the center spurs medical breakthroughs in the field of immunology “Immunology is the mediator of nearly all human diseases, whether we’re talking about cancer or heart disease or Alzheimer’s,” Michelson said.
“The vision for this institute is to become a ‘field of dreams’ — the world’s leading center for the study of the immune system to develop advanced immunotherapies to prevent, treat and cure all of the diseases that afflict people today and to end these diseases in our lifetime.” Michelson is co-founder and chair of the board of the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, which will be housed within UCLA’s new Research Park. In January, Governor Gavin Newsom provided the university with $200 million to purchase the former Westside Pavilion Mall and transform it into a cutting-edge center.
On Tuesday, he thanked the Michelson’s for their donation to help move the research into action. “This incredible act of generosity by Alya and Gary Michelson, coupled with Gary’s prolific work over the years as a leading innovator in the medical field, perfectly exemplifies the California spirit and will help ensure our state�.