ISCI at the University of Miami receives $25 million from Soffer Family

Miami, FL The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has received a $25 million donation from the Soffer Family Foundation. The generous donation marks the largest gift ISCI has received to date. The funding will allow the institute to continue its groundbreaking stem cell research in several areas, supporting the exploration of new cell-based therapies in the fields of cardiology, sports medicine, and aging-related frailty. In honor of this act of generosity, the University of Miami is dedicating the Clinical Research Building to the Soffer family and renaming it “The Don Soffer Clinical Research Center.” “I am honored that the University of Miami has made the decision to name a building after me,” says Donald Soffer. “We are thrilled to have our name tied to such a great institution.” Cardiology research at ISCI, part of UHealth - the University of Miami Health System, has significantly advanced the treatment of heart disease through the use of stem cell therapy and has led to the publication of key influential clinical trials that have shown the efficacy of mesenchymal and cardiac stem cells in regenerating cardiac tissue. The institute is now expanding its research into new areas such as the development of stem cell treatments for infants with congenital heart disease. As more and more professional athletes are looking to regenerative medicine for treating game-related injuries, a portion of the gift will also support sports medicine stem cell research. In addition, there is a great need for treatments for a variety of ailments associated with an aging population. The Soffer family’s donation will provide ISCI with support to understand how stem cell therapies might be used to combat frailty and other aging-related conditions. “The work we are doing with stem cells is leading the field both in research and clinical applications,” says Joshua Hare, M.D., the Louis Lemberg Professor of Medicine, Founding Director of ISCI, Chief Science Officer and Senior Associate Dean for Experimental and Regenerative Therapies. “We have only scratched the surface of possible stem cell applications. The Soffers’ transformative gift will go a long way to generating therapies that will benefit countless individuals suffering from many types of ailments.” The Soffer family, founders of Turnberry Associates and owners of the renowned The Fontainebleau Resorts, has a history of making multi-million dollar donations to various charitable organizations, particularly in the Miami area. In the past, the family has aided causes such as education and animal rescue, and this $25 million donation to ISCI marks one of its most significant gifts to the scientific community. “Philanthropy and community have always been fundamental to the Soffer family identity,” said Donald Soffer. It is for that reason, we are happy to contribute to the advancement of treatments that will enhance health and wellbeing.