The Texas Heart Institute (THI) has announced a gift valued at more than $32 million from Frederick M. Weissman to support cardiovascular research, Houston Intown Magazine reports.

The gift is the largest ever received by the institute and was awarded through a bequest from Weissman, a neurologist from New York, who was first treated by the institute’s cardiac surgeon, Denton A. Cooley, in the mid-1980s. At the time of his death in 2005, Weissman left the institute $500,000, and THI recently received the residual of his estate. Of the gift, $5 million has been designated to match philanthropic commitments of at least $10,000 made to THI’s Research Innovation Fund.

“Those of us who were fortunate enough to work with and be trained by Dr. Cooley know he was much more than just an incredibly gifted surgeon. He established lifelong relationships with his patients and encouraged all of us to do the same,” said O.H. “Bud” Frazier, co-director of THI’s Center for Preclinical Surgical & Interventional Research. “Dr. Weissman’s extraordinary generosity reflects the impact Dr. Cooley still has on the Institute he founded.”

(Photo credit: GettyImages/lucadp)