Now Reading: Bernie Marcus foundation commits $28.7M for heart stem cell study
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Bernie Marcus foundation commits $28.7M for heart stem cell study
Bernie Marcus foundation commits $28.7M for heart stem cell study
The Marcus Foundation, backed by late Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, has committed $28.7 million to stem cell research at the University of Southern California. The funding supports physician-scientist Charles Murry's work…
The Story in Brief
The Marcus Foundation, backed by late Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, has committed $28.7 million to stem cell research at the University of Southern California. The funding supports physician-scientist Charles Murry's work on regenerating heart muscle damaged by heart attacks. His team uses stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes and gene editing to reduce arrhythmia risks.
The treatment remains experimental, with clinical trials still ahead. A heart attack leaves scar tissue that weakens the organ, and researchers hope new muscle cells can restore function. The Marcus Foundation has awarded over $2.7 billion in grants since 1989, with medical research a key focus.
The Indian Opinion
This $28.7 million gift from a private foundation underscores the immense scale of US medical philanthropy. Yet Indian readers should note that similar research here often limps on erratic public grants or small CSR budgets. The narrative that only billionaires can propel regenerative medicine forward is misleading, government-funded agencies like DBT have done pioneering work on stem cells for years. The real test: can USC's gene-edited cells survive human trials without causing new complications? Until then, the donation remains a bet, not a breakthrough.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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