Mission Magazine - Voelcker Fund sparks new discovery, sustains Health Science Center mission

Voelcker Fund sparks new discovery, sustains Health Science Center mission

September 2009

Established in 2006, the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund and its trustees have already made transformational gifts of nearly $4 million to biomedical research at the Health Science Center. The trustees continue to honor the legacy of the late Max and Minnie Voelcker by playing a profound role in breakthrough science in San Antonio and South Texas.

$4 million supports outstanding faculty
This year, the Voelcker Fund trustees provided an additional $4 million to fund the research of six outstanding Health Science Center investigators through its Scholar and Young Investigator Awards program. This new gift brings total support from the Voelcker Fund to just under $8.75 million dedicated to advancing medical research in San Antonio through the Health Science Center.

The Young Investigator Awards provide recipients with $150,000 each per year over five years ($750,000). The funds support young scientists who conduct groundbreaking medical research in the following areas: cancer, heart disease, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, retinitis and/or macular degeneration of the retina.

The Scholar Awards provide a one-time award of $500,000 to each recipient. The gift supports the development and productivity of outstanding, established scientists for Voelcker Fund research priorities.

The following are the 2009 Voelcker Fund Scholar and Young Investigator Award recipients.

SCHOLAR AWARDS
Sunil Ahuja, M.D.
Rong Li, Ph.D.

YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARDS
Ricardo Aguiar, M.D., Ph.D.
Patricia Dahia, M.D., Ph.D.
David Kadosh, Ph.D.
Merry L. Lindsey, Ph.D.