$100 million gift to Brigham and Women’s Hospital from Gene Lay

Brigham and Women’s Hospital on announced a $100 million gift that will create a new Institute of Immunology and Inflammation.

The donation, the largest in the hospital’s history, was given by biotechnology entrepreneur Gene Lay, founder and CEO of BioLegend, Inc. It was given through his Laygend Foundation.

“I have always been fascinated by the immune system’s ability to heal the body,” Lay said in a statement provided by the hospital. “And I’ve had a longstanding relationship with and respect for the scientists in the Harvard medical community, who played an instrumental role in my career. With this gift, I am bringing together the best scientific minds I know to translate research discoveries into therapies for immune-mediated diseases rooted in chronic inflammation.”

Hospital officials said the new institute will be named after Lay. Primary areas of research will include immune-mediated diseases, aging, and cancer, with a goal of developing new immunotherapies for the conditions.

“We are honored to receive this historic and visionary gift from Dr. Lay, who is deeply committed to solving an emerging trend in medicine—the rise of chronic inflammation associated with increased levels of disease and suffering,” said Robert S.D. Higgins, the president of the Brigham and executive vice president of Mass General Brigham. “This will amplify our ability to improve the quality of patients’ lives across the country and around the world. We’re thrilled to be part of this pivotal moment in the field of medicine.”

Gene Lay’s BioLegend leads in the development of high-quality antibodies for cellular immunity.

Dr. Lay is the founder, president, and CEO of BioLegend, a global life science company based in San Diego. The company focuses on the development and production of high-quality antibodies for cellular immunity, inflammation, cancer, stem cells, and other reagents required for research and diagnosis.

Since being founded in 2002, BioLegend has expanded its reach across the globe, with research and development facilities in Taiwan and Japan, as well as subsidiaries in Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. Lay continues to pursue his dream of giving back and cultivating more talents.