Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto has announced a $35 million gift from local business leader Larry Tanenbaum and his wife, Judy, to support medical research at the hospital.

The lead gift in a $50 million capital campaign will be used to advance the work of internationally recognized investigators focused on the prevention, detection, and treatment of health conditions that are aligned with the institute's flagship clinical programs, including cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, maternal and infant health, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental health disorders. The campaign aims to create an endowment that will help support research at the hospital's newly renamed Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, which is home to Canada's largest research team focused on maternal and infant health and is a leader in diabetes research among academic hospitals worldwide.

Larry Tanenbaum, who serves as chair of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, is considered one of Canada's most influential and respected business, civic, and philanthropic leaders. Over the years, he has served on the research committee's board of directors and has been a strong supporter of research that has the potential to revolutionize patient care.

"Research is about finding answers to questions, where failure is more common than success, and where the cost of success requires time, patience and investment," said Tanenbaum. "Judy and I continue to be inspired and rewarded by the researchers at Mount Sinai and the quiet success they are achieving. Their discoveries are transforming the way that we understand disease and this not only positions Canada as a leader in biomedical research, but is leading the way towards how patients will be cared for in the future."