The Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch) has announced a $710.5 million commitment from the family of Jackie and Mike Bezos—parents of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—in support of several research and recruitment initiatives over the next 10 years.

The gift follows the cancer research and clinical care center’s recent merger with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and its declared plans to accelerate the pace and breadth of medical breakthroughs in cancer and infectious disease research, requiring $3 billion in philanthropic support over the next decade. It was not disclosed if the funds were directed through the Bezos Family Foundation or a personal gift from the Bezos family.

The gift will fund key priorities at Fred Hutch including $300 million to recruit early- and mid-career researchers and senior scientists; $225 million to help construct facilities to house the Stuart and Molly Sloan Precision Oncology Institute—itself funded by a recent $78 million gift; $149.5 million to expand clinical trials, make them more diverse, and deepen scientist-clinician collaboration; and $36 million to bolster the Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center and advance immune-based strategies for treating cancer. In addition, the gift will enable Fred Hutch to furnish lab space and research facilities with new technologies and equipment institution wide.

The Bezos family has previously supported research initiatives at Fred Hutch, including a $35 million gift in 2017 to fund the Bezos Family Immunotherapy Clinic.

“As longtime Fred Hutch supporters, we were encouraged to see the recent merger expand its capacity to aggressively investigate and treat cancer and infectious diseases,” said Mike Bezos. “Science, particularly cancer and virus research, is at such a pivotal point right now. We hope our investment in the Hutch leads to answers for the most pressing medical questions. We also hope this inspires others to join us now in pursuing scientific and medical breakthroughs.”

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