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A Legacy of Givingby Erin Blair A single meeting three decades ago has led to the largest private contribution to support basic and translational biomedical research in BCM history. The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation's $31.25 million commitment has set a "new standard of philanthropy" according to BCM President and CEO Dr. Peter G. Traber. "Just as Albert Alkek helped launch Baylor College of Medicine into the top tier of academic medicine by funding Dr. Michael DeBakey's cardiovascular research 30 years ago, the Alkek Foundation now continues its generous support of the college's world class research programs," said Traber. "This gift propels us forward in our goal of leading the next generation of biomedical research." Texas oilman Albert B. Alkek, first met DeBakey in 1973. Fascinated with his groundbreaking research, the Alkeks helped fund the National Heart and Blood Vessel Research and Demonstration Center, where a group of physician-scientists under DeBakey's direction made important discoveries about atherosclerosis and lipoprotein structure. "This gift signifies not only the Alkek Foundation's continuing commitment to basic research and the benefits it brings to our community, but also our confidence in Baylor College of Medicine's leadership in the field," said Charles A. Williams, President of the Foundation and a BCM Trustee. "We are proud to partner with the college in making this investment." Williams is the grandson of Albert Alkek and his wife Margaret McFarland Alkek. In appreciation for the foundation's investment in scientific discovery and as a memorial to Mrs. Alkek, who passed away in March after leading the foundation for a decade, the college will name its new research tower the Margaret M. Alkek Building for Biomedical Research. Alkek funding will establish and expand major new interdisciplinary programs to be housed in the building, as well as support the research enterprise underway throughout the campus. These initiatives—identified in BCM's Strategic Plan—include cardiovascular sciences, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, cancer, pharmacogenomics, imaging, informatics, and proteomics. Many of these research programs had their origins in generous gifts previously made by the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation to the Margaret M. and Albert B. Alkek Department of Medicine, the Winters Center for Heart Failure Research, the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, the Thrombosis Research Section, the Breast Center, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, and the Human Genome Sequencing Center. Traber said the gift will allow the college to recruit and retain faculty leadership, to develop core laboratories, and to purchase equipment for collaborative research. "It is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen the interdisciplinary biomedical research programs that are crucial to our competitiveness as a leading academic medical center," he said, adding that the National Institutes of Health has made collaborations across departments and between institutions a funding priority. The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation's endorsement of our vision ensures the success of Baylor College of Medicine for years to come." said. The Margaret M. Alkek Building for Biomedical Research will anchor the Moursund Street side of the main BCM campus, forming a bookend with the Margaret M. and Albert B. Alkek Building that houses the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. That facility's name recognizes the Alkek Foundation's 1998 gift for initiatives in education, patient care, research, and community outreach outlined in the Investment in Discovery fundraising campaign. Under Mrs. Alkek's leadership, the foundation gave the college a total of almost $50 million.
"I am moved beyond words to witness the continuation of Albert and Margaret Alkek's legacy of thoughtful philanthropy expressed in their daughter, Margaret Williams, and her son, Charles Williams," said DeBakey, now BCM Chancellor Emeritus. "The spirit of generosity truly transcends generations in this extraordinary family—to the benefit of humankind." |
Patient CareResearchThe Next Step in Cancer Research EducationHalf a Century Later... They're Still Giving Back Community ServiceFrom Despair to Hope: BCM Responds to Katrina Alumni & DevelopmentThe Vietnamese Cowboy and the Race Car Driver A Fortunate Life... A Fight Against Cancer College NewsA New Door for the East Campus New Museum to Showcase Maestro of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine: Making a Difference in the Community  University of Texas freshman and Bluebonnet Belle, Margaret McFarland (later, Margaret M. Alkek) |
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Volume 1, Issue 3, Fall 2005 |
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| Last modified: October 10, 2008 |
