Technology entrepreneur Larry Ellison has donated $200 million to establish the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), a new center in Los Angeles that will combine interdisciplinary research with the holistic prevention and treatment of cancer. David B. Agus, MD, Professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and USC Viterbi School of Engineering, will lead the institute.
Mr. Ellison’s gift is among the largest made to cancer research and treatment in recent years. The donation was announced at the Rebels with a Cause fundraising gala for the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine on May 11.
Vision for the Institute
Mr. Ellison’s gift will provide the lead investment for a state-of-the-art facility in west Los Angeles that will serve as the Ellison Institute’s home. The building will house interdisciplinary cancer research laboratories focused on scientific discovery and innovation. Clinical advances will focus on transforming cancer treatment through technology and an interactive care clinic that offers patients world-class health care. The institute’s collaborative environment will include a think tank, education and outreach, and a wellness program. The center will be open to the community for lectures and wellness classes on nutrition and similar topics.
The Ellison Institute will draw collaborators from across conventional health and wellness fields, as well as from a broad range of other disciplines such as physics, biology, math, and engineering to study cancer and potential ways to prevent, detect, and treat the disease. The institute will complement and integrate cancer research being conducted by faculty physicians and scientists across the university.
More About Dr. Agus and Mr. Ellison
Dr. Agus currently leads the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine (CAMM) at the USC Norris Westside Cancer Center in Beverly Hills and on the USC Health Sciences Campus in Los Angeles. Under Dr. Agus’ guidance, CAMM’s research focuses on the application of proteomics and genomics, integrating clinical trials, preclinical studies, and molecularly targeted therapy.
Mr. Ellison, the Founder and Chairman of Oracle Corporation, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and sportsman. His founding of Oracle, a multinational computer technology corporation, heralded a new era of corporate data management and organization. Previously Oracle’s CEO for 37 years, Mr. Ellison now serves as the company’s Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer. ■
