T. Boone Pickens’ generous US $12.5M legacy gift
Supporting next-gen brain and mental health research
Celebrating T. Boone Pickens’ legacy
Texas oil magnate and philanthropist T. Boone Pickens shared a long friendship with Harley Hotchkiss, founding donor and namesake of the Cumming School of Medicine’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI). UCalgary is tremendously grateful for Mr. Pickens’ visionary philanthropic leadership. The US $12.5M gift will build on the success of The Boone Pickens Centre for Neurological Science and Advanced Technologies, which delivered critical new spaces for research, training, and treatment at the Cumming School of Medicine’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI). The new program will power bright ideas and strong new HBI leaders, through two new transformative and sustainable funding streams.
HBI launches plan for multi-million dollar legacy gift. Read the story here.
Program Components
International Recruitment and Training
US $1M for fellowship and scholarship support for promising trainees including international trainees. We will bring brilliant new minds to HBI – armed with skills and opportunities that match their passion — to become tomorrow’s neuroscience research leaders. For example, Dr. Deepika Dogra, postdoctoral fellow joining HBI from India and Germany, is undertaking work in epilepsy research.
Supporting Emerging Leaders
US $9.25M will go towards recruitment and support of early career investigators holding faculty positions who are emerging leaders in neuroscience research innovation. Early career researchers recruited to HBI are driving innovation to combat global challenges. An example of this is Dr. Roger Thompson and Dr. Tuan Trang, who collaborate on discoveries to mitigate opioid withdrawal.
Fueling Innovation
US $2.25M will be invested in the launch of UCEED Neuro fund. This new fund will empower neuroscience innovation through investment and mentorship to early-stage, research-based, brain and mental health startups. This represents the next step in building an ecosystem to accelerates UCalgary neuroscience innovations towards global impact.
Leave a lasting legacy
The University of Calgary Legacy Society celebrates individuals who have included UCalgary in their estate plans. These contributions, committed today, are earmarked to support student awards and bursaries, innovative teaching and learning initiatives, and life-changing research. They also help secure the future of the institution, as well as fulfil a donor’s wish to make a lasting impact. Learn more about legacy giving here.