Harvard Awarded $2.5 Million by Markey Trust

Harvard University has received an award of $2 million in flexible endowment funds from the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust, according to an announcement by President Neil L. Rudenstine. In addition, Harvard's School of Public Health has received a grant of $500,000 to continue research previously funded by the Markey Trust.

Harvard is one of seven institutions to be awarded endowments of $2 million each for support of promising graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty members pursuing careers in biomedical science. The funds will provide endowment income for discretionary allocation by the president within the purposes of the grant.

"This grant is a major boost in our efforts to encourage research on the frontiers of biological and biomedical science," Rudenstine said. "Supporting the process of scientific discovery - especially at a time of constrained government funding - is one of the most important and rewarding investments that can be made. We are deeply grateful for the Markey Trust's confidence in the quality and vitality of scientific research at Harvard."

Harvard's School of Public Health is receiving an additional grant of $500,000 to conduct further research in molecular and cellular toxicology. According to Dr. Robert J. Glaser, the trust's director for medical science, these supplemental awards were made in recognition of previous accomplishments by Markey-supported investigators addressing problems in biomedical science.

Dean Harvey V. Fineberg noted that the new grant would allow the School to build on its work to date at a critical moment: "With the Markey Trust's assistance, we are applying molecular biology in novel ways to toxicology. We appreciate the trust's continued confidence in and support for our work."

According to Rudenstine, both Markey grants represent important steps in achieving the goals for support of science in The University Campaign, a five-year, $2.1 billion effort to prepare Harvard for the next century. The awards cap over a decade of support by the Markey Trust for Harvard initiatives in the sciences. The $2 million grant is the first endowment award made by the trust to the University during that time.

Since its inception in 1983, the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust has awarded grants of more than $500 million to support and encourage basic medical research. The Markey Trust was established by the will of the late Lucille P. Markey, owner of Calumet Farm, a thoroughbred breeding and racing stable located in Lexington, Ky. In accordance with the provisions of Mrs. Markey's will, the trust will cease operations on June 30, 1997.