UCI receives gift to support safety procedures in the lab

UC Irvine’s stem cell research program received another monetary gift this week when a Fullerton businessman contributed $100,000 to support safety procedures in the lab.

The Dhont Family Foundation, founded by a Belgian couple and overseen by their son Andre Dhont, presented the check to UCI neurobiologist Hans Keirstead at the Reeve-Irvine Research Center on Wednesday. The grant, facilitated by Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, seeks to ensure that stem cell lines remain intact and healthy as scientists move toward human clinical trials.

The foundation made an additional offer to Keirstead’s lab: if the researchers raise an additional $100,000 for safety research, the foundation will match the funds, bringing the total to $300,000.

— Michael Miller