University of Pittsburgh received an $18.5 million donation from the Orland Bethel Family Foundation to support a biological specimen repository within the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center for orthopedic research.
The Orland Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center Biobank will help develop treatments for arthritis, osteoporosis and spinal conditions, according to a Sept. 19 news release.
"We hope to establish a first-in-kind encyclopedic and accurate data repository that will foster cross-institutional collaboration," Anantha Shekhar, MD, PhD, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and dean of the Pitt School of Medicine, said in the release. "Once the biobank database is established, we can explore the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning data analysis for more accurate treatment of musculoskeletal diseases."
With this donation, the Orland Bethel Family Foundation surpassed $45 million total donations to the University of Pittsburgh. Its past donations include $25 million to create the BMRC and a previous $2 million gift to create the Orland Bethel professorship in spine surgery.