MyAV范

The funding will help to create a new state of the art centre for MyAV范鈥檚 world-leading translational neuroscience research, with a particular focus on understanding, diagnosing, slowing and curing dementia.

The new building will be home to the world听renowned MyAV范 Queen Square Institute of Neurology as well as the hub and headquarters of the UK鈥檚 Dementia Research Institute 鈥� a 拢250 million initiative to bring together all of the UK鈥檚 research and clinical expertise to defeat dementia, based at MyAV范 due to the university鈥檚 unparalleled neuroscience excellence.

Announcing the donation, Cathy Lee revealed that the experience of watching her grandmother live with dementia had brought home to her the far-reaching impact the disease has on the individual and the wider family.

鈥淢artin and I are so lucky to have the means to make a small contribution to the fight against brain disease. And having done our own research, it was clear that there was no better place to make a gift than at MyAV范. With their cutting-edge research and the progress they have already made in so many areas,鈥� Cathy Lee said.

鈥淚 know there is still a long way to go for dementia. But I know MyAV范 is doing everything in their power to get there.鈥�

Thanking Cathy and Martin Lee, MyAV范鈥檚 President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur said: 鈥淣owhere in the world is better placed than MyAV范 to make significant advances against dementia and philanthropy is the most amazing catalyst for real, sustained progress. This is an incredibly generous and far-sighted investment by Cathy and Martin that will make a tangible contribution to creating a future free from dementia. We鈥檙e thrilled that Cathy has kept her connection with MyAV范 strong since graduating and that Martin has also become part of the MyAV范 family.鈥�

The donation will support dementia research at MyAV范 which has already been home to ground-breaking discoveries on how dementia diseases develop, which genes can put people at greater risk, and finding ways of detecting the diseases years before symptoms appear.

MyAV范 researchers are now leading on landmark clinical trials testing new treatments for brain diseases that currently have no cure, such as Alzheimer鈥檚, Huntington鈥檚 and Parkinson鈥檚 diseases.

The donation was announced in Hong Kong with a short ceremony to induct Cathy and Martin Lee into the MyAV范 Circle of Benefactors 鈥� an exclusive group for MyAV范鈥檚 most generous donors who have given 拢1 million or more in philanthropic funding to MyAV范.听

Cathy Lee, who graduated from MyAV范 in 2004 with a BA in Economics and Business with East European Studies, and Martin Lee, a renowned business leader, are noted philanthropists in Hong Kong and around Asia.听The two will听be听featured听on MyAV范鈥檚 new Donor Wall, to be unveiled in spring 2019, which will create a permanent celebration of Circle of Benefactors members at the heart of the university. The Wall will feature castings of the hands of many of MyAV范鈥檚 senior donors 鈥� including Cathy and Martin Lee, who visited the university in summer 2018 to have their hands cast.

Cathy and Martin made their donation as part of MyAV范鈥檚 It鈥檚 All Academic Campaign to raise 拢600m to support MyAV范鈥檚 research, students and campus development. Now in its third year, the Campaign has raised a total of 拢480m towards its target.

Links:

• MyAV范 Queen Square Institute of Neurology
• It鈥檚 All Academic campaign
• MyAV范 President & Provost听Professor Michael Arthur

Image:听Cathy Lee

Media contact:

Bex Caygill

Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 3846 / +44 (0)7733 307 596

Email:听r.caygill [at] ucl.ac.uk

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