Photo I Courtesy of Bryan Goodchild/UMass Chan Medical School
The Paul J. DiMare Center at UMass Chan Medical School
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UMass Chan renames $350M research building for historic donor
Photo I Courtesy of the DiMare family
Paul J. DiMare
After receiving the third-largest donation in the entire UMass system’s history, UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester has officially renamed its New Education and Research Building after the donor foundation’s patriarch.
As of Wednesday, the 350,000-square-foot research building has been named the Paul J. DiMare Center in honor of the historic $35-million gift bestowed by the Florida-based Paul J. DiMare Foundation, according to a Thursday press release from UMass Chan.
The donation, announced in February, was made in an effort to advance the school’s research into neurodegenerative and genetic diseases, particularly ALS, the illness that led to DiMare’s passing in 2021 at the age of 81.
“This level of philanthropy symbolizes unwavering support for biomedical research and demonstrates the DiMare family's commitment to treating neurodegeneration,” Daryl Bosco, UMass Chan professor and associate vice chair of research in the Department of Neurology, said in the release.
Raised in Belmont, DiMare helped grow his family’s produce business DiMare Co. into one of the country’s largest fresh-market tomato growers and distributors. After being diagnosed with ALS, he was treated by Dr. Robert Brown, a UMass Chan professor and director, who led a team of researchers to discover the first gene linked to the inherited form of ALS.
“This is a partnership with a family who is in the business of growing. Whether it's growing tomatoes in the sun-drenched fields of Florida or California or growing awareness of our research into some of the most challenging diseases of our time, the DiMare family intuitively understands the ingredients necessary for success at UMass Chan Medical School,” UMass Chan Chancellor Dr. Michael Collins said in the release.
Opened on June 7, 2024, the nine-floor, $350-million DiMare Center houses more than 70 principal investigators throughout fields including molecular medicine, gene therapy, neurology, and psychiatry.
“This magnificent research building … stands not only as a tribute to the life Paul lived, but as a beacon of hope for the lives we still aim to save. The Paul J. DiMare Center will serve as the lasting legacy of a man whose determination, generosity and spirit continue to inspire us all,” Swanee DiMare, Paul’s wife, said in the release.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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