$50 million gift from Richard and Susan Rogel establishes center for pancreatic cancer at university
The University of Michigan has announced a transformative $50 million donation that will establish the Rogel and Blondy Center for Pancreatic Cancer, a state-of-the-art hub dedicated to advancing research, treatment, and prevention of one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
The gift, among the largest in the university’s history, marks a significant milestone in Michigan Medicine’s decades-long commitment to tackling some of the most complex and devastating health challenges of our time.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers, with survival rates lagging far behind other primary cancers.
Late detection, limited treatment options, and its aggressive nature have made it a formidable opponent for patients and physicians alike.
Despite these challenges, pancreatic cancer research continues to receive disproportionately less federal funding compared to its impact.
University President Santa J. Ono called the new center “a transformative investment in saving lives, accelerating discovery, and giving patients new hope where so often there has been little.”
Michigan Medicine has long been recognized as one of the nation’s leading cancer research institutions, home to the Rogel Cancer Center, which has pioneered advances in precision medicine, immunotherapy, and translational research.
The new Rogel and Blondy Center for Pancreatic Cancer will build on that foundation, drawing together leading oncologists, geneticists, surgeons, and immunologists into a collaborative hub.
Its mission will encompass everything from the development of advanced screening tools and biomarkers that can identify pancreatic cancer at earlier stages to expanding access to clinical trials and therapies such as immunotherapy and precision oncology tailored to individual patients.
The center will also emphasize comprehensive, integrative care that supports patients and their families not only physically but emotionally, while forging national and international partnerships to accelerate progress in one of the most challenging fields of medicine.
The Rogel and Blondy families, whose philanthropy has already left a lasting imprint on the university, described the donation as a deeply personal commitment to tackling a disease that touches countless families.
“This is about hope,” they said in a joint statement. “Hope for families facing one of the toughest diagnoses, hope for patients who need better options, and hope that the next generation will not face the same devastating outcomes we see today.”
The impact of the center will extend well beyond Ann Arbor.
With a focus on accessibility and reach, Michigan Medicine intends to ensure that breakthroughs in research and care benefit patients across Michigan and the broader region, not only those able to access care on the main campus.
Dr. Marschall S. Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, emphasized that the center will accelerate discoveries from the bench to the bedside, ensuring patients worldwide can benefit from the most advanced science and compassionate care.
With the establishment of the Rogel and Blondy Center for Pancreatic Cancer, the University of Michigan positions itself at the forefront of the global fight against one of medicine’s most pressing challenges.
The $50 million gift stands as both a testament to the power of philanthropy and a rallying call to the research community.
As President Ono put it, “This is more than a building or a program—it is a promise. A promise that Michigan will lead with urgency, compassion, and innovation to change the story of pancreatic cancer.”