W.M. Keck Foundation Grants $20 Million to Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences.

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- The Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences (KGI) announced today that it has received a grant of $20 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation. More than half of the grant, distributed over the next seven years, will increase the institute's endowment, and the remaining portion will augment its general operating fund.

During this time KGI plans to continue building its world-class graduate education and applied research program in bioscience, more than doubling the number of students currently enrolled. The institute has also committed to raising $30 million in matching funds.

"This generous grant will assist us in continuing our commitment to provide the best education possible for professionals striving to become innovative, ethical and effective leaders in the bioscience and pharmaceutical industries," said Sheldon Schuster, KGI president.

"Our society can take full advantage of great advances in the life sciences only when emerging discoveries in the laboratory are coupled with the skills of business and management," Schuster said. "Great minds must be given great opportunities that grow out of a broad and integrative view of science. We applaud the leaders of the W.M. Keck Foundation for their continuing commitment to this vision."

"This new grant reflects the Foundation's belief in KGI's mission and our confidence in its leadership," said Robert A. Day, chairman and president of the W.M. Keck Foundation. "KGI has achieved great things in a short period of time. We hope this grant will help it now secure its place as a unique and vital institution at the forefront of training leaders for the global life sciences industry."

More than $13 million of the Foundation's award will be applied toward KGI's endowment. The endowment supports the curricular and research initiatives of the institute, including fellowship assistance to students. There are presently 52 students enrolled in the two-year Master of Bioscience (MBS) program. Growth in incoming classes will soon expand the program to 120 students. Applicants to KGI typically have undergraduate degrees in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, or computer programming. Before the emergence of the MBS program, students who did not wish to obtain an M.D. or a Ph.D. in the sciences had no avenue to pursue a career in the business of the life sciences. The professional MBS degree opens this new career path in a rapidly growing industry that is emerging as a hallmark of the 21st Century. After receiving the MBS degree, students pursue careers with biotechnology, medical device and pharmaceutical companies such as Amgen, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Ceres, Allergan, and Health IQ, as well as nonprofit and government agencies. More than 96% of KGI's alumni have found employment in bioscience-related businesses and organizations within 6 months of graduation.

A distinguishing feature of KGI's MBS program is the innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizing team projects and case studies. The vigorous research program at KGI has already had several notable successes. For example, work at KGI resulted in advances in fighting HIV by developing high-throughput screening for potential new drugs. Faculty members have also developed a handheld device that only takes ten minutes to test for low levels of SARS, meningitis, and influenza pathogens. The state-of-the-art classrooms and research laboratories at KGI are supported by a general operating fund. The non-endowment portion of the W.M. Keck Foundation grant will augment this fund.

W.M. Keck Foundation Background

The W.M. Keck Foundation was founded in 1954 as a charitable trust by William Myron Keck, the founder of Superior Oil Company. Mr. Keck envisioned a philanthropic organization that would provide far-reaching benefits for humanity in the fields of science, engineering, natural resources, medicine and higher education.

Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences was established in 1997 with a $50 million founding grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation.

KGI Background

Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences is an independent, coeducational graduate school offering a unique professional Master of Bioscience (MBS) degree that is accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. KGI is the seventh and newest member of the Claremont University Consortium, located in Claremont, California.

EDITORS NOTE: KGI lab photos available upon request.

Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences is dedicated to education and research aimed at translating into practice, for the benefit of society, the power and potential of the life sciences.