Washington University School of Medicine has received a $20 million donation to establish a new center for psychiatric research.
The Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research will focus on developing new and more effective therapies for psychiatric disorders. Researchers will start by studying neurosteroids, chemicals in the brain that help regulate thinking and emotion. Changes in levels of neurosteroids can be linked to mood disorders, chronic pain, epilepsy, or Alzheimer’s disease.
The gift from Andrew and Barbara Taylor and the Crawford Taylor Foundation was announced as Wash U launched a multi-year fundraising campaign which aims to raise $2.2 billion. In a press release, university officials said funds from the campaign will go toward four areas: preparing the leaders of tomorrow, advancing human health, inspiring innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhancing the quality of life.
Andrew Taylor chairs Wash U's Leading Together fundraising campaign and is the CEO of Enterprise Holdings, the St. Louis-based company that operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands.
Follow Véronique LaCapra on Twitter: @KWMUScience