The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has received a $25 million donation from the Soffer Family Foundation.
The donation marks the largest gift ISCI has received to date.
The funding will allow the institute to continue its stem cell research in several areas, supporting the exploration of new cell-based therapies in the fields of cardiology, sports medicine, and aging-related frailty.
In honor of this act of generosity, the University of Miami is dedicating the Clinical Research Building to the Soffer family and renaming it “The Don Soffer Clinical Research Center.”
“I am honored that the University of Miami has made the decision to name a building after me,” said Donald Soffer. “We are thrilled to have our name tied to such a great institution.”
Cardiology research at ISCI, part of UHealth – the University of Miami Health System, has significantly advanced the treatment of heart disease through the use of stem cell therapy and has led to the publication of key influential clinical trials that have shown the efficacy of mesenchymal and cardiac stem cells in regenerating cardiac tissue.
The institute is now expanding its research into new areas such as the development of stem cell treatments for infants with congenital heart disease.
As more and more professional athletes are looking to regenerative medicine for treating game-related injuries, a portion of the gift will also support sports medicine stem cell research.
In addition, there is a great need for treatments for a variety of ailments associated with an aging population. The Soffer family’s donation will provide ISCI with support to understand how stem cell therapies might be used to combat frailty and other aging-related conditions.
The Soffer family, founders of Turnberry Associates and owners of The Fontainebleau Resorts, has a history of making multi-million dollar donations to charitable organizations.
In the past, the family has aided causes such as education and animal rescue, and this $25 million donation to ISCI marks one of its most significant gifts to the scientific community.
