A wealthy financier couple gives back by donating $185 million to neuroscience in the hope of consolidating studies related to the field and removing stigma on mental disorders.
Well-known banker and former Citigroup chairman and chief executive Sanford "Sandy" Weill and wife, Joan, have decided to commit $185 million for the creation of a new neurosciences institute to be named after them in the University of California, San Francisco.
Over the last few years, scientists have been making huge breakthroughs in the field of medicine, but it seems to be on the contrary when one talks about mental or brain health.
"Research on the brain, which is the most complex part of the human body, is far behind," says Mr. Weill.
Considered to be one of the biggest donations ever in this field and for the school, the money will put together all relevant departments under one institute.
It will significantly finance a new building expanding up to 270,000 square feet, where the institute's headquarters and patients' clinics will be found. The money will also be used to provide financial support for PhD students under the Weills Fellows program.
The institute is expected to focus on nervous systems and brain problems, specifically neurodegenerative diseases, sleep disorders, mechanisms of brain repair, and behavioral disorders.
The Weills hope that by bolstering research and treatment, researchers will be able to tell why some people develop brain-related or mental health problems while others don't.
Sandy has learned to deal with his mom's Alzheimer's, dad's depression, and his friend's suicide. Meanwhile, the mother of Joan, whose family she described as a household "with very good brains," lived for more than 100 years without being diagnosed with any brain or mental disorders.
Further, by keeping everything under one roof, it may help change the way people view mental health disorders.
"We want to keep healthy brains healthy and help find treatments for those affected by mental illness, which is heartbreaking for so many patients and families around the world," says Mrs. Weill.
The Weills have been following the footsteps of Bill and Melinda Gates' clean energy research fund by actively supporting research. Years ago, the power couple led the $400 million pledge for Cornell Medical School, where they donated $250 million.
