Keck School receives $11 million gift to fight diabetes, cancer

February 29, 2008

Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 29, 2008-A friend of the Keck School of Medicine has given a bequest of $11 million. In recognizing the donor’s interest in diabetes and cancer, the Clifton Stewart Diabetes Research Program will be created using half the funding. 

The program initially will recruit three top-level basic science investigators who will enhance the School’s clinical research strengths in diabetes and obesity.

According to Keck School Dean Carmen Puliafito, a planning committee will be chaired by Thomas Buchanan, professor of medicine and obstetrics and gynecology and associate dean for clinical research, and Richard Bergman, the W.M. Keck Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, and chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics.

Remaining gift funds will create the Clifton Stewart Cancer Research Fund, supporting basic and clinical research at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“This remarkable gift from the estate of Mr. Clifton Stewart will allow our faculty to continue to shine in two priority areas of research—cancer and diabetes,” Puliafito said.

“We look forward to leveraging our considerable research strengths in diabetes and obesity as we recruit new research faculty to the Keck School.”  Puliafito added that the new investigators will be placed within existing basic science departments and research institutes.