Allergan Foundation donates $2 million to UC-Irvine

The University of California-Irvine's department of ophthalmology received $2 million from the philanthropic arm of Allergan Inc., The Allergan Foundation. The donation will further strengthen the department's research agenda and clinical care. The gift was "the largest donation ever to ophthalmology," according to a joint press release from the university and Allergan.

In the future, UC-Irvine would like to develop a new facility called The Eye Institute. The facility would be dedicated to teaching, clinical care, and research on retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. If the proposal is approved and funded, Allergan's contribution will be used to support retinal research within the institute and the department of ophthalmology.

"This generous and far-reaching gift from Allergan will have a lasting impact on the university, school of medicine, and the department of ophthalmology," said Chancellor Michael V. Drake. "The vital partnership we share with Allergan will further strengthen our position as an innovative center of excellence in ophthalmology that will improve lives in Orange County, the region, and beyond."

Some of the nation's top researchers in retinal disease, glaucoma, corneal disease, and refractive surgery work at UC-Irvine, and Allergan's donation will help them meet complex medical and surgical eye-care needs, conduct clinical research, develop programs and technologies in conjunction with industry, and seek clinical solutions to serious and debilitating eye-threatening diseases.