Central OC Times

The University of California, Irvine has received a $50 million donation from Orange County biotech entrepreneur Charlie Dunlop for the School of Biological Sciences. Dean Frank LaFerla announced the gift before thousands of graduating students, faculty, and family supporters at today’s school commencement, where Dunlop was the featured speaker.

His gift will create an endowed fund that will provide unrestricted support for academic and research activities within the school.

“This gift supports UC Irvine’s belief that human and environmental health are integrated and that well-being requires an evidence-based approach that engages all disciplines in the School of Biological Sciences,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “Charlie Dunlop’s dedication to this vision and his deep generosity will help UC Irvine set a standard that other biology programs in the U.S. can follow.”

“I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Charlie Dunlop for his extraordinary generosity and enduring commitment to the advancement of the life sciences and the betterment of our society,” said LaFerla, the Dr. Lionel and Fay Ng Dean’s Chair in Biological Sciences. “Thanks to him, the school will now enter a new era of discovery and excellence. Together, our students, faculty, and all members of our biological sciences community will embark on a journey of innovation and impact.”

In honor of Dunlop’s transformative contributions and pioneering spirit in biology and medicine, LaFerla announced the renaming of the school to the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences.

Dunlop is one of Orange County's leading biotech scientists and entrepreneurs. Raised in Orange County and a graduate of UC San Diego, he founded Ambry Genetics in 1999 after raising about $500,000 from friends and family. The company became a pioneer in genetic testing with innovations such as hereditary cancer panels and clinical exome sequencing.

“UC Irvine is a huge asset to California, to the community, and to Irvine,” Dunlop said. “It would have been impossible to build a business like Ambry without UC Irvine... so for me to give back... seems like the right thing to do.”

Dunlop also helped start the Mauli Ola Foundation in 2007 which provides hope through ocean-based therapies for individuals living with genetic diseases.

“By himself... Charlie has been incredibly generous... we are proud... name [the] School... recognition [of] his transformational gift,” said LaFerla.

The School was one of UC Irvine's original divisions when it opened in 1965 under founding dean Edward A. Steinhaus who organized it based on levels of analysis rather than taxonomy—a structure now widely adopted globally.

With over 4,000 undergraduates and 300 graduate students today, multidisciplinary research spans areas including cancer studies, developmental biology genetics among others.

“My focus is biology because it is [a science] where dedication at [the bench] translates directly [to success],” Dunlop said regarding his contribution decision emphasizing its critical importance especially seen through children’s hospitals experiences.

Publicly launched on Oct. 4th 2019 Brilliant Future campaign aims awareness support engagement aiming $2 billion philanthropic investment contributing significantly towards campaign success while being vital part thereof aiming reaching heights student success wellness among others more information available online visit https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/school-of-biological-sciences

Founded in 1965 member prestigious Association American Universities ranked nation top public universities by U.S News World Report campus produced five Nobel laureates known academic achievement premier research innovation anteater mascot led by Chancellor Howard Gillman more than thirty-six thousand students offering two hundred twenty-four degree programs located economically vibrant communities second-largest employer contributing billions annually local economy state-wide further details visit www.uci.edu additional resources journalists available https://news.uci.edu/media-resources

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