A snapshot of some of the private donors helping to keep the Boston research enterprise running and growing.

Caitlin Stier

Boston-area researchers have long benefited from wealthy individuals financing their work. Now with lagging funding from federal government agencies, and restrictions in federal funding for some areas like stem cell research, private donations are playing a larger role in fueling the next scientific discoveries. Here are examples of how philanthropists have made their mark on Boston science in recent years through their donations for research, new buildings, or both.

Pat and Lore McGovern
Recipient: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT
Amount: $350 million over 20 years
When: February 2000
Research: Neuroscience with a focus on perception, cognition, and action
About the donors: Pat McGovern founded International Data Group (IDG), a computer publishing, research and exposition management company. Lore McGovern is a co-founder of Vector Graphics. She is currently involved with numerous start-up ventures in Silicon Valley.

Eli and Edythe Broad
Recipient: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Amount: $200 million ($100 million to MIT and $100 million to Harvard) over ten years
When: June 2003 (the first $100 million) and November 2005 (an additional $100m)
Research: Genomics, chemical biology, bioinformatics
About the donor: Eli Broad is founder and chairman of both SunAmerica, a financial services company, and KB Home, a home builder.

Ted and Vada Stanley
Recipient: Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute
Amount: $100 million
When: March 2007
Research: Genetics of psychiatric disease
About the donor: Ted Stanley is founder and current chairman of MBI, Inc., a direct marketer of jewelry, leather-bound books, and collectible products.

Joyce and Bill Cummings
Recipient: Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University
Amount: $50 million over 15 years
When: September 2004
Research: Veterinary research, education, and clinical programs
About the donor: Bill Cummings is the founder of Cummings Properties LLC, one of the largest real estate and development firms in Massachusetts.

Barbara and Jeffry Picower
Recipient: Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT
Amount: $50 million
When: May 2002
Research: Learning, memory, and cognition
About the donors: The Picower Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the country.

Carl and Ruth Shapiro
Recipient: Carl J. Shapiro Science Center, Brandeis University
Amount: $25 million
When: January 2006
Research: Interdisciplinary life sciences
About the donor: Carl Shapiro is the founder and former chairman of Kay Windsor Inc., a company that manufactured and imported knitted apparel.

Charles T. (“Ted”) Bauer
Recipient: Bauer Center for Genomics Research, Harvard
Amount: $25 million
When: November 2000
Research: Genomics
About the donor: Ted Bauer was the co-founder of the AIM Management Group, an investment company.

Ray and Maria Stata
Recipient: Stata Center, MIT
Amount: $25 million
When: December 1997
Research: Computing, information science, artificial intelligence, linguistics and philosophy
About the donor: Ray Stata is cofounder and chairman of Analog Devices, a microchip company.

David Koch
Recipient: Center for Cancer Research, MIT
Amount: $25 million over 10 years; Koch also recently donated an undisclosed amount for the construction of a new building for the Center.
When: February 1999
Research: Cancer
About the donor: David Koch is the executive vice president and member of the board of Koch Industries, which is involved in the oil and gas industry as well as chemicals, agriculture, minerals, real estate, and financial investments.

Virginia and Daniel Ludwig
Recipients:
Ludwig Center for Molecular Oncology, MIT
Ludwig Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School
Amount: $20 million each
When: November 2006
Research: Metastasis (MIT); cancer drug development (Dana-Farber)
About the donor: Daniel Ludwig was an entrepreneur involved in many industries, including shipping, hotels, and real estate.

Bernard and Sophia Gordon
Recipient: Bernard M. Gordon Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems and the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program, Northeastern University
Amount: $20 million
When: August 2006
Research: Technologies and devices to detect hidden objects
About the donor: Bernard Gordon, an electrical engineer, founded and was Chairman of the Board and Director of Analogic, a medical and security imaging company. He also founded NeuroLogica, a medical imaging company. Gordon has funded other science and engineering initiatives at Tufts, MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Museum of Science, Salem State College, and Lahey Clinic.

Fred Kavli
Recipients:
Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, MIT
Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology, Harvard
Amount: $7.5 million each
When: August 2004 (MIT); September 2006 (Harvard)
Research: Astronomy, astrophysics, space science and engineering (MIT); the interface of biology, engineering, and nanoscale science (Harvard)
About the donor: Fred Kavli is a physicist and entrepreneur. He founded the Kavlico Corporation, one of the world’s largest suppliers of sensors for aeronautic, automotive, and industrial applications.

Virginia and James Stowers Jr.
Recipient: Harvard Stem Cell Institute through the Stowers Medical Institute
Amount: approximately $10.7 million ($5.9 million for five years for Kevin Eggan of Harvard University and $4.75 million for four years for Chad Cowan of Massachusetts General Hospital)
When: November 2005 (Eggan); June 2006 (Cowan)
Research: Stem cells
About the donor: James Stowers Jr., founded American Century Investments, an investment company.