$25 Million in New Funding Donated to Washington University Genome Institute

As one of only three large-scale, NIH funded genome centers in the United States, the Genome Institute at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has been a large contributer to cancer research and the research of child illnesses since it was founded in 1993.

Recently, $25 million was donated to the Genome Institute from James and Elizabeth McDonnell, and the James S. McDonnell Charitable Trust. The size of this donation means the center will be renamed the center to The Elizabeth H. and James S. McDonnell III Genome Institute, and provide funding to assist researchers in the center with their studies of cancer and illnesses.  

“What appeals to us about The Genome Institute is its collaboration with St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics in the application of genomics to pediatric cancers,” James McDonnell, one of the donors, explained. 

Notable research achievements at the Genome Institute at Washington University includes:

• Decoded the genome of a women with Leukemia to identify errors in the genome that contributed to her cancer.
• Sequenced the genome of Enterovirus D68, one of more than 100 enteroviruses. 
• Sequenced both the genome of gut bacteria found in premature babies affected by necrotizing enterocolitis and the DNA of babies who had congenital anomalies but no known causes for this to see if there is a correlation between gut bacteria and congenital anomalies.
• Contributed 25% of the sequencing for the Human Genome Project, which was completed in 2003. 

Funds from the new $25 million donation will help support research on the genetics of cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and many other genetic disorders. With a better understanding of these genetic disorders, more personalized and effect treatments and diagnoses will hopefully be developed.  

"This extraordinary gift will enable our top-line researchers to set more ambitious goals and set up discoveries in the fast-paced world of genomics," explained Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton of Washington University.  

Washington University is a well-funded research marketplace.

In the 2014 fiscal year, the university received $372.7 million in funding from the NIH and in 2012 it had a total of $625.4 million in life science R&D expenditures. 

Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. holds an annual BioResearch Product Faire™ Event at Washington University that gives lab supply companies the opportunity to discuss lab products and technologies with life science researchers in this well-funded research marketplace. The 16th Annual BRPF™ Event at Washington University is coming up on March 20, 2015.

Lab suppliers at the event are able to: 

• Discuss, display, demonstrate, and promote lab supplies to life science researchers. 
• Inform researchers about the benefits of using their lab products and tools. 
• Network with researchers and other lab supply companies. 
• Discover new sales leads. 
• Get exposure and increase brand awareness in the St. Louis marketplace. 

To learn more about participating in the 16th Annual BioResearch Product Faire™ Event at Washington University on March 20, 2015, visit the link below: 

Researchers at Washington University interested in attending this event can visit the link below to learn more and pre-register: