At a press conference Friday, Gov. Jim Doyle accepted a $15 million donation from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, which will go to build the new Interdisciplinary Research Complex on campus.
The proposed IRC will replace outdated research facilities, allowing UW-Madison to remain at the forefront of research.
\Wisconsin is a leader in research and technology development,"" said Doyle. ""UW-Madison, in particular, is a leader in biochemistry, genomics, nanotechnology, information technology and many other disciplines. Over the past 15 years, we've invested nearly $1 billion in high technology facilities.""
According to Dr. Phillip Farrell, dean of the UW-Madison Medical School, the IRC is the final and most ambitious step of the HealthStar plan.
""The HealthStar journey began just about a decade ago with a vision of a growing and thriving health sciences enterprise that would spark innovation and discovery, advance promising research, nurture new generations of skilled medical professionals and deliver real solutions, greater solutions, to our nation's most challenging health concerns,"" said Farrell.
The IRC will result in better treatment and healthier living for the people of Wisconsin. On a national level, the IRC will establish UW-Madison as a preeminent biomedical enterprise and will promote the West Campus as the nation's premiere health sciences campus, Farrell said.
The IRC will focus on cancer and cardiovascular research, neuroscience, stem-cell regenerative medicine, molecular medicine and other cutting-edge research programs, according to Farrell.
""A gift of $15 million [from the Rennebohm Foundation] will be given to the University of Wisconsin for the building of the [IRC],"" announced Oscar Rennebohm Foundation President Steve Skolaski. ""We are very proud to be a part of that.""
According to Farrell, the Rennebohm foundation has been a key partner in the HealthStar journey.
Gov. Doyle said partnerships are a crucial element for world leading researchers to have the facilities, equipment and resources they need to do their work.
Skolaski explained the Rennebohm foundation was set up by Gov. Oscar Rennebohm in 1949 to support education, research, health care and recreation with the sole beneficiary being the Madison area.
The foundation has kept up with this vision to support the work of UW-Madison over the past 55 years by providing grants to many of UW-Madison's schools and colleges.
""When the IRC is completed,"" Doyle said, ""it will be the home of life-saving, life-enhancing research-a tribute to the Rennebohm name and a source of pride to the citizens of Wisconsin.""
Farrell hopes the ground-breaking for the IRC will begin at the end of summer.
""We will be investing $750 million in public and private funds to the state over the next several years,"" Doyle said, ""so that Wisconsin will continue to lead the world in scientific breakthroughs and job creations.""
