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Chuck Durham — the namesake of UNMC’s two research towers who died in April 2008 — was dedicated to the advancement of biomedical research at UNMC and he demonstrated this when he provided the lead gifts on both medical center researcher towers.
So as the second tower opens and researchers begin work, the Durham children are now able to step back and reflect on their father’s life and his contributions to the world, Steve Durham said.
“This represents kind of the finale, it’s kind of a closure,” he said, “and that means a lot to all of us.”
Steve Durham was surrounded by his three sisters — Sunny Lundgren, Lynne Boyer and Debby Durham — as he spoke about his father, UNMC and the twin research towers that bear his family name.
Comments about Chuck Durham and the impact his generosity had on the medical center were in abundance at the ceremony. UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., noted that Durham’s support of the medical center’s research mission was a key moment in UNMC’s history.
“He gave our research mission instant credibility in the Omaha community,” Dr. Maurer said, noting that others quickly lined up behind Durham to support UNMC research.
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Dr. Maurer noted how the research towers helped UNMC recruit and retain top-notch researchers.
DRC II was used as a recruiting tool to bring husband and wife researchers, Hamid Band, M.D., Ph.D., and Vimla Band, Ph.D., to UNMC from Northwestern University.
Dr. Maurer told the couple they would have laboratory space in the state-of-the-art research tower should they come to UNMC, said Dr. Vimla Band, professor and vice chairwoman for research in the department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy.
“Honestly, I didn’t believe him,” she said, noting that she and her husband had previously worked in highly-competitive research markets such as Boston and Chicago and were familiar with empty promises made to secure top talent.
Both Drs. Vimla and Hamid Band will soon move their operations into the DRC II where they will continue their work to improve breast cancer treatment. It’s a move that left Dr. Vimla Band excited by the proposition of working in a cutting-edge facility.
“You can have great ideas but you cannot do research in your basement,” she said. “You have to have the facilities to do the work and we certainly have that here.”
Among others to comment at Wednesday’s ceremony were Gov. Dave Heineman, who lauded UNMC for an amazing year that included the groundbreaking or openings of four new facilities, and Roger Bulger, M.D., former president of the Association of Academic Health Centers.
In his comments, Dr. Bulger referenced two of his favorite aphorisms — one from former U.S. Rep. Paul Rogers, who used to say, “Without research, there is no hope,” and the second from a computer slide show a friend sent him that read, “Aspire to inspire … before you expire.”
By constructing the new research tower, UNMC has invested hope in a way that is truly inspiring, Dr. Bulger said.
Dr. Bulger closely monitors the state of the country’s academic health science centers and he said the completion of the new tower and other recent developments show that UNMC is on solid ground.
“This medical center is in very good shape,” Dr. Bulger said.