Over the past two years, the WoodNext Foundation has generously committed to the Vascular Medicine Institute $2.3M and $2.8M for research on circadian rhythm, as well as $14.4M for research investigating the connection between inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. On July 6 and 7, representatives from the WoodNext Foundation conducted a site visit at the University of Pittsburgh in association with this funding. Nancy Chan, MPP (Executive Director, WoodNext Foundation) and Bishakha Mona, PhD (Associate Advisor, Science Philanthropy Alliance) met with lead PI Stephen Chan, MD, PhD; project PIs Colleen McClung, PhD and Toren Finkel, MD, PhD; and numerous other investigators working on this research to discuss the significant progress that has been made to date. They also toured the VMI and Aging Institute labs, as well as Dr. McClung’s lab and Dr. Anne Newman’s clinical research facility, to observe where the work they are funding takes place and the wide-ranging cutting-edge equipment available to these investigators.

A $14.3 million award from the WoodNext Foundation will expand research at the University of Pittsburgh to identify causes of inflammation that lead to heart disease and dementia, two of the most costly, deadly and pervasive health problems in the United States.

“This gift will bring together three world-class research teams, disrupting the traditional path of single disease research,” said Anantha Shekhar, the John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine and senior vice chancellor for the health sciences at Pitt. “The transformational contribution from the WoodNext Foundation will advance biomedical, cardiovascular and neuroscience research through collaboration and innovation.”