US$25 Million Commitment to the West Wireless Health Institute Brings Total Funding from Gary and Mary West Foundation to Nearly US$100 Million Since Institute's Inception in March 2009
By West Wireless Health Institute, PRNESunday, June 20, 2010
Additional Funding will Support Continued Recruitment of World Class Engineering Talent
SAN DIEGO, June 21, 2010 - The Gary and Mary West Foundation today announced a US$25 million
commitment to enable the West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI) to amplify its
aggressive recruitment of world class engineering talent and accelerate its
mission on a national and global scale. The additional funding comes on the
heels of a US$20 million grant announced last month, and brings the total
support provided by the foundation to nearly US$100 million since the
Institute's inception in March 2009. WWHI is one of the world's first medical
research organizations dedicated to lowering the cost of health care by
innovating, validating, advocating for, investing in and helping
commercialize wireless health solutions. The nonprofit Institute is
headquartered in San Diego, California, the global hub for wireless life
science research and development.
"California is committed to leading the way in the future of medicine,
health and science technology," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "We have
been laying the groundwork for years to expand this technology in our state
which will provide greater access to quality care and help reduce overall
health care costs. And, it is partnerships like this one, bringing the best
minds and innovators together, that will continue our strong leadership. I
applaud the Gary and Mary West Foundation for their generous donations to
this industry and to help the West Wireless Health Institute look for ways to
improve our quality of life while creating new jobs here in our state."
"The time for a lower cost, infrastructure independent model of care is
now," said Mr. West. "It is not only the right moment, but San Diego is the
right place for the emergence of the wireless health industry and the
creation of this transformative new health care model. Mary and I are
dedicated to providing the resources necessary to establish WWHI, and in turn
San Diego, as the number one destination for the leading minds in medicine,
engineering, science and technology."
"Gary and Mary West have emerged as visionary leaders in our community,"
said Mayor Jerry Sanders. "Their commitment is spurring an industry that will
not only create economic growth for our region, but also establish San Diego
as the preeminent place for wireless health research and development. The
West Wireless Health Institute has achieved an impressive list of milestones
in its first year, but it's evident the best is yet to come."
"To achieve our mission of lowering health care costs, we must ensure the
top engineers and multi-disciplinary researchers in the U.S. and beyond are
developing efficient and effective wireless health solutions," said Don
Casey, the Institute's CEO. "The exceptional generosity of Gary and Mary West
will result in significant applied research and development at an
unprecedented pace."
The Institute's Engineering department is comprised of an
interdisciplinary team of engineers and post-doctoral researchers with
expertise in microsystems, bioengineering, analytics and algorithms,
biomedical circuitry, nanotechnology, user experience and software design,
wireless communications and a variety other specialties. The team is focused
on three core areas: applied research, engineered solutions and advanced
training, and works closely with WWHI's clinical staff to strategically
address the validation and regulatory approvals required to bring solutions
quickly to market.
For more information on WWHI, please visit
www.westwirelesshealth.org.
ABOUT THE WEST WIRELESS HEALTH INSTITUTE
The West Wireless Health Institute (www.westwirelesshealth.org) is one of
the first medical research organizations in the world supporting the
exploration and application of wireless technologies to advance
infrastructure independent health care. Based in San Diego, California, the
nonprofit Institute is fostering an unprecedented convergence of medicine,
engineering, science, technology and health care economics. Its mission is to
lower health care costs by accelerating the availability of wireless health
solutions.
Michele B. Guthrie of West Wireless Health Institute, +1-858-539-3500, mbguthrie at gmwhi.org
Tags: california, June 21, San diego, United Kingdom, West Wireless Health Institute