In a remarkable turn of events for the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Dr. Robert A. Mah and Dr. Adeline Yen Mah have made headlines with their generous $20 million contribution through the Falling Leaves Foundation. This donation is earmarked for the construction of the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, which is anticipated to open in the summer of 2025. This latest gift follows their previous $30 million donation in 2021, showcasing their unwavering commitment to propelling medical research forward.
UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman expressed his heartfelt gratitude, emphasizing the honor of helping to realize the innovative medical vision that Dr. Mah and Dr. Yen Mah cherish. The upcoming Medical Innovation Building, which will encompass around 200,000 square feet, is set to become one of the largest medical research facilities in the western United States, designed with state-of-the-art laboratory spaces aimed at fostering breakthroughs in medical and health science education.
Additionally, the Mah couple’s contribution will fund research for two distinguished centers named in their honor. The Robert A. Mah Molecular Innovation Center, led by Professor Andrej Luptak, will focus on developing next-generation cancer therapies alongside innovative treatments for diseases resulting from viruses and bacterial infections. Simultaneously, the Adeline Yen Mah Vaccine Center, under Professor Philip Felgner’s leadership, will explore vaccine science, specifically aiming to develop novel mRNA, DNA, and protein vaccines to protect vulnerable populations against future pathogens.
Dr. Adeline Yen Mah shared her excitement about the facility, envisioning it as a vibrant hub for fundamental science, biotechnology, and medicine. She stressed the significance of modern architectural design and high-throughput testing laboratories in promoting collaboration and innovation, ultimately aiding in the discovery of “the limitless wonders of nature.”
Although Dr. Mah specializes in environmental microbiology as a distinguished professor at UCLA and Dr. Yen Mah has forged a successful career in internal medicine and anesthesiology, their shared dream of conducting medical research together found an ideal partner in UCI, allowing their vision to become a creative reality.
Dr. Adeline Yen Mah, originally from Tianjin, China, faced personal tragedy early in life with the loss of her mother shortly after her birth, later being raised by her father after he remarried. At just 14, she was sent to the UK to study at University College London, where she pursued physiology and biophysics, securing a scholarship for her foundational research.
Dr. Robert A. Mah grew up in Fresno, California, entering UC Berkeley at 17 before transferring to UC Davis, where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
Since its establishment in 2007, the Falling Leaves Foundation has continued to embody the Mah couple’s deep commitment to philanthropy and medical advancement.
