$31 million new gift from Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg raises their giving to university to $60 million, aims to foster scientific discovery and support the next generation of researchers
Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg have made a transformative $31 million commitment to UCLA Health to advance biomedical research, graduate education, and innovation at the UCLA Research Park.
The latest gift from the longtime Southern California philanthropists brings their total giving to UCLA to $60 million, underscoring their deep commitment to fostering scientific discovery and supporting the next generation of researchers.
UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk described the gift as “visionary,” noting that the Ginsburgs’ generosity “supports our acceleration of breakthrough research into real-world solutions — deepening collaboration across disciplines, feeding innovation, and strengthening our ties with industry and the broader community.”
The Ginsburgs’ donation will fund three major initiatives designed to build capacity for research and training.
Eleven million dollars will establish the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Fund for Graduate Student Support, providing critical resources for doctoral and postdoctoral scholars to complete their studies, pursue ambitious projects, and transition successfully into independent research careers.
Another $10 million will create the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Biomedical Frontiers Fund, which will support promising research teams across the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA’s quantum innovation hub, and the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy.
The final $10 million will go toward the capital needs of the UCLA Research Park, including new laboratories and advanced tools that will drive innovation.
In recognition of their generosity, UCLA will name several spaces within the UCLA Research Park in their honor, including the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Foyer, Paseo, and Innovation Bridge.
The university previously honored the couple’s philanthropy through the creation of the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Precision Genomic Medicine, made possible by an earlier $29 million gift.
“This extraordinary gift exemplifies how vision and generosity can accelerate discovery,” said Dr. Steven Dubinett, dean of the Geffen School of Medicine.
“It underscores the essential role of philanthropy in advancing science and cultivating the next generation of innovators.” Dr. John Mazziotta, vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences, added that the Ginsburgs’ support “directly addresses the challenges faced by young investigators — building research teams and portfolios at the most critical stages of their careers.”
Dr. Allen Ginsburg, a retired ophthalmologist and real estate entrepreneur who completed his residency at UCLA in 1963, said he and Charlotte wanted their gift to empower future scientists.
“Charlotte and I believe that science plays an outsized role in clinical care,” he said. “Our gift seeks to ensure that the generations who follow have the resources, tools, and mentors to continue to advance human health and well-being.”
Charlotte Ginsburg, a performing arts patron and advocate for research and innovation, emphasized that their giving is meant to endure.
“This is why we created the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Research Foundation — so that our investment in research and innovation in Southern California will live on beyond our lifetimes,” she said.
Through this landmark commitment, the Ginsburgs are helping UCLA shape a new era of biomedical discovery and education. Their philanthropy reflects a belief that advancing human health requires not only scientific ingenuity but also sustained investment in people, ideas, and the spaces where breakthroughs begin.