Billionaire oilman Harold Hamm is giving some of his money toward diabetes research at the OU Medical Center. It was announced over the weekend the Harold Hamm Foundation made a $34 million gift to the Harold Hamm Diabetes Centers at OU Medicine.
It is considered to be the largest gift ever to the Center and follows the gift in 2007 that established the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center with the goal to cure diabetes.
“I believe that breakthroughs in diabetes will occur in the lab and we want to foster an environment where the best and brightest are exploring all pathways to a cure at the HHDC,” said Harold Hamm, chairman of Continental Resources Inc.
As a result of his original gift, the center has become one of the top in the U.S.
The $34 million dollar gift will be allocated over the next 10 years to fund research, talent and technology.
The funds will also allow for novel projects in diabetes research where traditional funding mechanisms do not exist. This will provide diabetes researchers the opportunity to determine the feasibility of the ongoing study of new and novel concepts. It will also be utilized in support of hiring diabetes faculty and researchers, as well as developing new research programs and supporting facilities at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center.
“We are very grateful to Harold for his continued support of research toward a cure for a disease that affects so many Oklahomans,” said University of Oklahoma President Jim Gallogly. “This gift will go a long way toward our goal of doubling research at OU, and it will directly impact hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans and people around the world.”
Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, created by the OU Board of Regents with the support of the Oklahoma Legislature, is charged with providing statewide leadership in diabetes treatment, research, prevention, information, education and awareness. The
comprehensive diabetes center, with operations on OU’s Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses, also provides access to the latest developments in diabetes care and management through clinical trials hosted by the center.
“A major gift like this enables Harold Hamm Diabetes Center to recruit world-class diabetes researchers whose work improves the quality of life of diabetic patients and reduces the financial burden of diabetes care,” said Dr. Jay Ma, director of research programs at Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. “It enhances our center’s reputation of leadership, allowing us to attract more excellent diabetes experts into Oklahoma and benefit Oklahomans.”
Additionally, Harold Hamm Diabetes Center is home to the Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes. Awarded biennially, the $250,000.00 prize recognizes innovation in the field of diabetes research with an emphasis on progress toward a cure. The prize, established in 2012, celebrates the scientific achievements of an outstanding researcher, team of researchers or research institution selected by a rotating Jury of national land international leaders in the diabetes community.