Carnegie Mellon University has announced a $10 million gift from alumnus and trustee Frank Brunckhorst in support of the university's Neuroscience Institute and a new science building.

The gift includes $5 million in support of programming at CMU's Neuroscience Institute. Launched in 2018, the institute works to answer critical brain science questions through multidisciplinary research at the intersection of biology, cognitive psychology, computer science, statistics, and engineering. The remaining $5 million will support the institute's new home, a cutting-edge science building being constructed on the Pittsburgh campus. Announced in May, the $210 million facility will contain classrooms, teaching labs and workspaces, and modern labs that are purposefully designed to be shared.

A longtime supporter of Carnegie Mellon, Brunckhorst has contributed nearly $29 million in support of various initiatives, including nearly $15 million in endowed scholarships for CMU students and $2 million for the university's emergency response to COVID-19, with an emphasis on supporting students in need.

"Frank Brunckhorst has been one of Carnegie Mellon's most generous and thoughtful benefactors for almost three decades. I am grateful for his wise counsel as a longtime member of the board of trustees and for his willingness to step forward and support our most critical priorities," said CMU president Farnam Jahanian. "His philanthropy has provided scholarship support for hundreds of students, and now he will help us open a new frontier in cutting-edge scientific research that will unlock discoveries benefiting humanity."

"Carnegie Mellon's scientists are at the forefront of Neuroscience research, current and envisioned, benefiting all manners of neurological health and understanding," said Brunckhorst. "Their hearts are in their work, and their work benefits all of humanity — it's truly inspirational. This gift will provide resources to continue and expand this research. I am thrilled and fortunate to contribute to such a transformational initiative."