By Elizabeth Ireland
Times of San Diego
LA JOLLA, California — The Salk Institute announced Friday that Irwin and Joan Jacobs, longtime supporters of the renowned scientific research organization, pledged $100M to launch Salk’s five-year, $500M philanthropic and scientific Campaign for the Future.
The gift, the largest in Salk’s history, is structured as a challenge match, adding $1 to every $2 pledged by June 30, 2022 as a donor naming or endowment gift.
The campaign will provide funds to construct the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Science and Technology Center on Salk’s campus in La Jolla, support key scientific programs and increase Salk’s endowment.
“With this transformative gift and challenge to Salk, Irwin and Joan are helping shape the next chapter in Salk’s famed history,” said Salk President Rusty Gage. “It builds on the legacy of Jonas Salk and will advance scientific discovery at Salk for decades to come.”
The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Science and Technology Center will be home to four scientific Centers of Excellence, advancing discoveries in plant biology, computational biology, engineering, cancer and aging,
The facility will provide research and administrative space to advance Salk’s scientific efforts supporting expansion of the Institute’s activities in developing new drugs and therapies to fight cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, and finding ways to address climate change.
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Elizabeth Ireland is a contributing editor to Times of San Diego which trades stories with San Diego Jewish World under auspices of the San Diego Online News Association.