$5 million gift sets up U-M to be leader in public health awareness

The University of Michigan can count the ways its Risk Science Center will become both the leader and the best in its field. About 5 million ways to be exact.

That's how much money a couple of alumni benefactors have earmarked for the center, which should serve as the tipping point to make it the nation's premier comprehensive resource for assessing, quantifying and communicating risks to public health.

Put more simply, the money will allow the center to become a one-stop shop for people who want to know if it's safe to eat the fish (among other things). The Risk Science Center will provide accredited scientific and unbiased information.

U-M established the center in 2003 and is one of about a dozen such institutions in the U.S. U-M's institution will specializes in risk assessment, risk exposure and risk explanation. Among the issues it is currently researching are the role of pesticides in pancreatic cancer and lung cancer in automobile assembly plants.

The gift came from Charles and Rita Gelman of Ann Arbor, both of whom are U-M graduates. It is part of the university's Michigan Difference fundraising campaign.

Source: University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke