The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and University of Miami Health System have announced a $20 million commitment from the Desai Sethi Family Foundation in support of the Department of Urology.

The gift will support the creation of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, which aims to accelerate breakthrough advances in research, expand clinical care, and train future generations of urologists. To that end, the institute will provide physician-scientists with access to patients from various backgrounds and cultures, which will enable them to study health disparities in the treatment of both men and women with urological issues. The institute’s founding director will be Dipen J. Parekh, COO of the University of Miami Health System, professor and chair of the Department of Urology at the Miller School, the Victor A. Politano, M.D. Endowed Chair in Urology, and one of the world’s most experienced robotic surgeons in urologic oncology.

“We are dedicated to exploring the latest discoveries in the laboratory and accelerating the most promising therapies from the lab into our clinics for the best possible treatment for patients,” said Parekh, who also is director of robotic surgery. “This generous gift will transform our ability to expand the scope and influence of our work, creating a thriving environment for new discoveries in the field that will benefit patients worldwide.”

(Photo credit: University of Miami)