Drive for Spinal Center Begun
With the help of actor Christopher Reeve and Orange County philanthropist Joan Irvine Smith, UC Irvine officials have launched a fund-raising campaign to establish what would be one of the few spinal cord research centers in the nation.
The Reeve-Irvine Research Center, which could open within two years, would concentrate on developing treatments to repair and regenerate neurological function in spinal cord patients.
“New discoveries would enhance the chances for recovery of function,” Reeve, who is famous for his film role as Superman, said Wednesday. He was paralyzed seven months ago when he was thrown from a horse while riding in Virginia and shattered two neck vertebrae.
UC Irvine officials are seeking a $5-million endowment--expected to be raised within two years--to fund the research center, which would be located in the school’s College of Medicine. Toward that, Smith, a longtime UC Irvine benefactor, handed university officials a check for $250,000 Wednesday morning and promised an additional $750,000 if the school can raise at least $2 million.
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