University of Michigan Health (Michigan Medicine) has announced a $10 million gift from the Weil Family Foundation in support of its critical care research institute.

The gift from the family of Max Harry Weil, who was regarded by many as a father of critical care medicine, will enable the institute’s faculty and staff to expand the development, funding, and facilitation of groundbreaking research on critical illness and injury. In recognition of the gift, the institute, formerly known as the Michigan Center for Integrative Critical Care Research, will be renamed the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation at the University of Michigan. Founded in 2013 as a hub for research and technology development across basic, clinical, information, and engineering sciences, the institute will use the funding to develop new programming, enhance existing ventures, and identify new partnerships that will create and sustain additional technological and entrepreneurial adventures.

Weil was the first physician to suggest grouping critically ill patients in a focused area for 24-hour observation and went on to establish a “shock ward”—what has evolved into today’s intensive care units—at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center with Herbert Shubin.

“In addition to supporting all of our endeavors, this gift will allow us to educate the next generation of clinicians and scientists in critical care science, as we get projects over the finish line to the patient bedside,” said Kevin Ward, executive director of the Weil Institute and professor of emergency medicine and biomedical engineering.

“There were many things that my father enjoyed in life, but he was really motivated by the idea of saving people’s lives, which he carried out to the last of his days,” said Susan Weil, Max Harry Weil’s elder daughter and a board member of the foundation. “There is nothing more fitting than bringing that back to his alma mater and a center that combines basic research and innovative ideas....Michigan has proven to us they can have an impact on science and products that will save lives right away, especially during this pandemic.”

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