Following a landmark gift, the Medical College of Wisconsin on Monday celebrated the dedication and official unveiling of the exterior signage for the Michels Center for Cancer Discovery.
The 161,000-square-foot center, which will focus on precision oncology, was made possible with the help of a $27 million gift honoring Tim and Barbara Michels and the Michels Family Foundation — the largest personal gift ever to the MCW Cancer Center.
With precision oncology, cancer prevention, detection and treatment is tailored to a patient’s genetic and biological profile.
Members of the Michels family attended the ceremony with Medical College leaders, cancer researchers and clinicians.
“We’re honored to have our family’s name associated with the groundbreaking cancer discoveries taking place at the Medical College of Wisconsin,” Tim and Barbara Michels said in a press release. “While we don’t know where exactly the next cancer research breakthrough will come from, we do know it takes exceptional scientists with access to state-of-the-art resources to find it.
“We believe in the cancer researchers here and want to help accelerate their relentless pursuit of more answers, more treatments, and more hope for patients and their families.”
The Michels family has been affected by cancer. Their daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed at age 11 with choroid plexus carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer, but 15 years later, she is healthy and thriving after being treated at the Medical College.
“The Michels family shares our belief that a brighter future for cancer patients and their families is within reach,” Shekar Kurpad, MCW president and chief executive officer, said in the press release. “Their generosity gives us the courage and the means to pursue that future with even greater ambition and with a focus on precision medicine.”
