Gilbert Family Foundation Contributes Nearly $375 Million in Partnership with Henry Ford Health to Bring Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to Detroit and Create the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute
- Partnership between Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Henry Ford Health will bring a state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility and neurofibromatosis research institute to Detroit
- Projects will cost $439 million over 10 years, with $375 million in grant funding from the Gilbert Family Foundation
- Rehabilitation facility will provide inpatient care for stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury patients
- Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute will focus on finding a cure for neurofibromatosis and personalized healthcare
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- World-renowned Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to partner with Henry Ford Health on inpatient rehabilitation hospital embedded within new patient tower at Henry Ford Hospital, with plans for expansion
- First-of-its-kind neurofibromatosis (NF) institute, named after Dan and Jennifer Gilbert's late son, Nicolas, to house groundbreaking research advancing toward a cure for NF and increasing access to personalized care
- Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute to be housed inside the groundbreaking new Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences research facility
The construction and operation of these two initiatives will cost an estimated
"Nearly every family will encounter unexpected health challenges at some point. While our family has faced severe health crises, we have been fortunate to receive some of the best medical and rehabilitative care in the country. Through these investments, we aim to enhance access to that same top-notch care for all Detroiters in times of need," said Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT), Co-Founder of the Gilbert Family Foundation and a former Shirley Ryan AbilityLab patient. "Jennifer and I are extremely proud to work alongside Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University to play a part in bringing both the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute to
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Henry Ford Health
The overall construction for the space will cost
"This is simply amazing news for the people we serve in
The rehabilitation facility will provide inpatient care for those recovering from a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other conditions. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab treats more patients for these conditions than any other single rehabilitation hospital in the nation.
"Dan and Jennifer Gilbert understand firsthand the value of providing the people of
In addition to the
Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute (NGNRI)
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disease that causes tumors to grow on nerve pathways anywhere in the body. According to the Children's Tumor Foundation, NF affects one in every 2,000 births throughout the world, and estimates that 4 million people worldwide are living with some form of NF, which can be either inherited or be the result of a spontaneous change in a gene.
NF1 is the most common of the three types of neurofibromatosis, and often sees tumors develop in the brain or on the spinal cord. While NF1 tumors are generally not cancerous, they may cause significant deformities and health issues such as blindness.
Dan and Jennifer Gilbert's late son Nick was diagnosed with NF1 as a child. Throughout his life, he championed neurofibromatosis awareness and passionately supported research into the disease. The Gilbert Family Foundation and sister nonprofit NF Forward have invested nearly
The Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute will collaborate with research institutions and researchers from around the world to create novel disease models using organoid technology and other research methodologies. These organoids or "mini organs in a dish" allow researchers to rapidly test potential drug treatments to see the positive and negative impacts of those potential treatments on healthy and unhealthy tissue. The nature of this technology will also allow for more personalized healthcare for Henry Ford Health and NF patients.
This new institute will be housed within Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University's new research building on Henry Ford Health's east campus, which is set to open in 2027. The construction of this part of the overall new facility is expected to cost
The Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute will be the first brick-and-mortar institute solely dedicated to neurofibromatosis, and one of the first institutes to leverage organoid technology and other novel models to address a single disease.
"The opportunity for our joint research facility is to conjoin the strengths of world-class academia, clinical research and healthcare," said MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. "That partnership is further strengthened by our partners at the Gilbert Family Foundation to become the first-of-its-kind research institute dedicated completely to a debilitating disease like neurofibromatosis. As a result of this institutional engagement,
Today's announcement was held at the newly-renovated Book Tower, and also included remarks from
"The magnitude of Dan and Jennifer Gilbert's generosity in
To access photography, video and speaker biographies from today's announcement, please click here.
About the Gilbert Family Foundation:
The Gilbert Family Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation founded by Jennifer and Dan Gilbert to accelerate a cure for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and build economic opportunity and equity in the city of
About the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute:
The Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute (NGNRI) is the world's first brick-and-mortar research facility solely focused on finding a cure for neurofibromatosis or NF. Named in memory of Nick Gilbert, who passed away from complications related to NF in 2023, NGNRI seeks to discover and develop improved treatments and cures for neurofibromatosis type 1 and other debilitating neuronal diseases and related conditions. NGNRI paves the way for more personalized health care by leveraging next generation technologies, including 'organoids' or mini organs in a dish, and advancing leading research. NGNRI will be housed within the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences research campus.
About Henry Ford Health:
Serving communities across
About Henry Ford Health + MSU
The product of a landmark, 30-year partnership, Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences is focused on setting a new standard for how individuals and communities experience care across the state of
About Shirley Ryan AbilityLab:
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of
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SOURCE Gilbert Family Foundation
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