Canadian diamond miner and philanthropist Charles Fipke has donated $3 million to the University of British Columbia’s research for Alzheimer’s disease. Fipke has also given $600,000 to labs at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health to contain the proper equipment. The centre belongs to the UBC Faculty of Medicine and Vancouver Coastal Health. Fipke has also given $5.5 million to purchase a brain imaging technology. The machine combines the technology of PET with MRI, in order to help scientists research more efficiently.
Fipke’s involvement to the cause is credited to his longtime friendship with former British Columbia premier Bill Bennet, who suffers from the disease.
Fipke’s contribution will go to the Start an Evolution campaign started by UBC, which stands as the most ambitious fundraising campaign in Canada. The campaign sets out to raise $1.5 billion by the end of the year as well as get 50,000 UBC alumni involved. CJ
