Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville has announced a $10 million gift from the family of retired Coca-Cola executive John F. Brock III and his wife, Mary, to help accelerate the discovery and commercialization of biomedical and health science innovations.

The Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation will provide resources to launch start-up companies and develop key industry and venture collaborations with the Vanderbilt faculty through the university’s Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization, as well as with external partners looking to develop and validate biotech innovations in a real-world laboratory within a major healthcare system. The family is a longtime supporter of VUMC, providing resources for fellowships, mentorship and career development for scientists, and cancer research at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, where the Brocks’ three children are board members.

“The Brock family [has] committed to supporting our entire mission, from research, to training the next generation, to providing the highest level of health care,” said VUMC chief scientific and strategy officer Jennifer Pietenpol. “With the Brock Center, we will amplify Vanderbilt’s impact and deliver on our belief that biotech and health-tech startups are key to catalyzing life-changing innovation.”

"We think remarkable discoveries will come out of the Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation," said John F. Brock III. “[T]hose discoveries will be turned into real-world solutions which will be earth-shattering...will have an amazing impact on society, and [will] also be economically attractive. We’re thrilled to be part of it.”

(Photo credit: Vanderbilt University Medical Center)