UCT receives R200m donation for neuroscience research covered by BusinessLIVE

Read the full BusinessLive article here: tinyurl.com/DGF-donation It is paywalled so alternatively read below: 'UCT receives R200m donation for neuroscience research The donation was made by the Donald Gordon Foundation The University of Cape Town (UCT) has received a R200m donation from the Donald Gordon Foundation for its Neuroscience Institute. The university said in a statement on Monday that “this substantial contribution is set to accelerate innovative neuroscience research in Africa and on a global scale”. The institute which has a state-of-the-art facility on the Groote Schuur Hospital campus opened its doors in 2020. It will be renamed the Donald Gordon Neuroscience Institute. Gordon, the founder of life assurer Liberty Life, suffered from dementia making the mission to destigmatise the condition and ultimately find a cure a top priority for the foundation which Gordon established in 1971. The institute’s director, Professor Graham Fieggen, said: “the most exciting aspect of the Neuroscience Institute is how it has grown the neuroscience community at UCT and elevated the visibility of our research globally. This landmark donation by the Donald Gordon Foundation is a vote of confidence in this remarkable group of neuroscientists and the impact of their work.” The statement said the donation would empower the institute to intensify research into aspects of brain development as well as a wide spectrum of injuries affecting the human brain and mental health. The research spans all life stages, from the adverse impact of factors such as HIV and alcohol before birth, through conditions such as trauma, infection, epilepsy and stroke, and to investigating disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Donald Gordon Foundation trustee Wendy Appelbaum said in the statement that “neuroscience is the frontier that still needs so much exploration — we can prolong life and replace organs, but, as yet, we can’t have the brain keep pace. “Coming from the life insurance industry we understand how life expectancy has been extended by the progress of modern medicine, so if we want to live not just long but also well, we need a deeper understanding of the brain.”' ensorl@businesslive.co.za