Novozymes, the world's largest manufacturer of industrial enzymes, has made a gift of $500,000 to the UC Davis Foundation to support an endowed chair devoted to the director of the UC Davis Genome Center. This gift to support the Genome Center, a campus initiative, has been matched by a contribution of an equal amount from the University of California, providing a total endowment of $1 million.

"This represents a unique opportunity where a highly committed donor was eager to help us establish this endowment, which will benefit a broad section of the campus," said UC Davis Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.

The Genome Center will catalyze the growth of genomics programs across the campus and will develop genomics technologies for fundamental life science research programs as well as carry out research in agriculture, the environment, medicine and veterinary medicine. The endowment will allow the center's director to fund new initiatives and attract other funding, for example from federal grants.

Per Falholt, executive vice president for research and development and chief science officer at Novozymes, said: "We appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively with UC Davis to support genomics programs for the benefit of the entire scientific community. This endowment is in alignment with Novozymes' commitment to social responsibility, and giving back to the community."

Glenn Nedwin, president of Novozymes Biotech of Davis, California, where the majority of Novozymes' collaborative work with UC Davis has been carried out, stated: "UC Davis continues to be a strong collaborative partner in many areas of science related to our business, and is a rich source of scientific talent. We are pleased to take this step to support the Genome Center at UC Davis."

The center is in the process of recruiting 15 new faculty in the areas of experimental genomics and bioinformatics. It will be housed in the new Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, a six-story, $95 million building on the western side of the core campus. The building is due to open in summer 2004.

"This generous gift will enhance our ability to develop and apply genomics technologies to the benefit of the biological research community on campus. In particular, it will allow us to explore higher risk avenues of research that are more difficult to support from other sources of funding," said Dr. Richard Michelmore, director of the Genome Center.

"I am thrilled that Novozymes recognizes the great interdisciplinary strengths UC Davis brings to genomics research. With one of the largest concentrations of life scientists of any place in the world, we have the tools to take our research from the gene to the hospital bed, as well as from the gene to the environment, and from the gene to society. This endowment will support research that will ultimately benefit the public," said Phyllis Wise, dean of biological sciences at UC Davis.