Mayo Clinic Gets Massive Donation for Major AI Cancer Research Initiative

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Mayo Clinic announced Tuesday that it has received a massive donation towards its initiative to transform healthcare. 

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A southeastern Minnesota native made the contribution. A news release says the multi-million dollar gift will accelerate Mayo’s ability to use Artificial Intelligence to assist with early detection and intervention in cancer. 

The donation totals $20 million. It was made by Dwight and Dian Diercks and the funding will establish the Dwight and Dian Diercks President, Mayo Clinic Platform.

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It will create the Heidi Diercks Krause Fund in AI Innovation for Cancer, which will be named after Dwight’s late sister. 

"The Dierckses’ visionary investment will bolster Mayo Clinic’s efforts through the Platform to curate the world's de-identified data, empower solution developers and transform healthcare around the world," says John Halamka, M.D., the inaugural Dwight and Dian Diercks President, Mayo Clinic Platform. 

Mayo plans to use the newly-established fund to advance answers for cancer through its Generative Artificial Intelligence Program and Mayo Clinic’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Mayo says the tools can give doctors improved insights into a person’s risk of developing cancer. The forecasting could allow clinicians to intervene possibly before cancer can be diagnosed, the news release states.

“We can't afford to wait years or decades for new AI breakthroughs in healthcare. People need new therapies and cures now,” says Mr. Diercks. “Dian and I truly believe that Mayo Clinic Platform and AI innovation will be the keys to better predicting diseases like cancer, so physicians can intervene sooner with more effective treatments that save, extend or improve the quality of patient lives."

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