University of Michigan Medical School Dean James Woolliscroft and I are pleased to announce that neurologist and research scientist Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., has been selected to direct the School's A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute. The Institute was established in September through a $22 million gift from the retail pioneer whose name it bears.

Dr. Feldman also will continue as one of the first five Taubman Scholars - U-M scientists who receive unrestricted funding from the institute's endowment to help their teams pursue fundamental research on the causes, treatment and prevention of a broad range of human
diseases. The first five Taubman Scholars are tackling heart disease, deafness, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

We believe Dr. Feldman is a natural choice to head the Institute, not only because of her own understanding of what's needed to translate laboratory results into clinical practice - but also because of her leadership abilities. She will lead the way in realizing Mr. Taubman's
vision for the Institute.

For more information, visit www.med.umich.edu/taubmaninstitute.