A Generous Gift: $25 Million for Alzheimer's Research at Northwestern

Jim and Wendy Abrams, along with their Eleven Eleven Foundation, have donated a massive $25 million to Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. The goal? To set up a new center dedicated to studying Alzheimer's disease using cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI). This giant medical supply company family from Northfield wants to make a real difference in finding answers and better treatments for Alzheimer's. David Gate, the new center's director, is really hopeful. He's excited about using AI to tackle the puzzle of Alzheimer's. The center will focus on studying the genes and cells affected by the disease. Gate believes this could lead to new and improved therapies. Right now, the center has a staff of about 15 people, working in a space of about 2, 000 square feet at Feinberg. The Abrams are optimistic that Northwestern's researchers can make big strides toward finding a cure for Alzheimer's. Jim recently retired from his role as chief operating officer at Medline, and Wendy belongs to the Mills family that started the company back in 1966. Medline has grown into a giant with 39, 000 workers worldwide and ranks high on Forbes' list of the largest private companies in the U. S. In 2021, the family sold a majority stake in their company to private equity firms. This move was aimed at generating cash for the family and giving the company a stronger base.