UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, has announced a $35 million grant from the Paul J. DiMare Foundation in support of the school’s neurodegenerative and genetic disease programs and the recruitment of early-career researchers.

Directed entirely to the school’s endowment, the gift will provide ongoing support for research and help advance breakthroughs in neurodegenerative and genetic diseases with a particular focus on ALS. In addition, the funding will bolster staff and faculty recruitment efforts with the goal of fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that directly benefit patients. This spring, the school’s new education and research building is expected to be named after the late Paul J. DiMare, a Boston-area native and philanthropist whose family business is among the largest tomato growers in the United States.

“This tremendous gift is a bold endorsement for life-changing biomedical research,” said UMass Chan chancellor Michael F. Collins. “[The grant] will undoubtedly advance UMass Chan’s mission to change the course of history of disease, while simultaneously bolstering Mr. DiMare’s enduring legacy, characterized by his astute, innovative, and engaged business acumen; good will; and generous commitment to the greater good.”

“[The DiMare family is] pleased to play a part in supporting UMass Chan and advancing research in neurodegenerative diseases, especially ALS,” said Paul DiMare’s son Anthony J. DiMare, who serves as DiMare Foundation president. “My father’s vision was to accelerate research to one day find cures for these devastating diseases. As he would say, ‘cure the incurables.’”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Ralwel)