A longtime visiting Marine Biological Laboratory scientist last month donated $25 million to the Woods Hole research center, marking the single largest funding gift in the organization’s 137-year history. 

Dr. Mark Terasaki, a cell biologist, will be giving the money in $5 million installments over the course of five years, and it will be used to bolster the laboratory’s basic infrastructure and salaries. The donation comes at a time of uncertainty for scientific research institutions, which are seeing funding cuts at the federal level. 

“It can pay for a lot of very basic needs and salaries for all the people who make all the fantastic work here possible,” said Dr. Nipam Patel, the director of the laboratory. “It will go towards all the basic needs that will keep MBL going.”

Mr. Terasaki has been visiting the Marine Biological Laboratory for the last 40 summers as part of the lab’s Whitman Center research program, which brings more than 100 scientists together to explore questions in biological and biochemical science. He said he understood that infrastructure costs are essential to keep the lab running. 

MBL scientist Javier Lloret aids with water quality research on the Vineyard.

Ray Ewing

MBL scientist Javier Lloret aids with water quality research on the Vineyard.

Ray Ewing

“I know it to be a magical place where wonderful interactions and insights occur,” he said in a statement. “Throughout its long history, many important biological discoveries have been made there, and its educational program has been world-class for just as long.”

Mr. Terasaki made the donation in memory of his father, Paul Terasaki, who worked in human transplantation.

Though none of the laboratory’s grants have been pulled as the Trump administration reprioritizes its research funding, Mr. Patel said the donation is still especially meaningful with future cuts at the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation still on the table.

“Things have gotten slowed down and there’s a lot of uncertainty,” he said.

The Marine Biological Laboratory was formed in 1888, and since then, the lab has been focused on biological sciences.

In his interview with the Gazette, Mr. Patel highlighted two initiatives that are emblematic of the work that MBL does. 

The laboratory’s research in imaging and microscopy helps provide better equipment for scientists working in a variety of fields.

The lab has been in Woods Hole for 137 years.

Mark Alan Lovewell

The lab has been in Woods Hole for 137 years.

Mark Alan Lovewell

“Often, big advances in science come from advances in technology. In our case, microscopes that let us see better resolutions faster, looking at things live without killing them, is all very important,” Mr. Patel said.

Mr. Patel is also investigating the potential to increase the biodiversity in the biomedical field. Much of biomedical research focuses on mice and fruit flies, but expanding to other creatures, such as those that live in the sea, can help answer more questions.

“Evolution has really solved every problem that you’re interested in,” he said. “There’s some organism out there that knows how to deal with what your problem is.”

The money from Mr. Terasaki will help ensure that scientific study continues at the laboratory by supporting the wider staff and infrastructure.

“The real fantastic part of this gift is that it supports all of the underpinning of the MBL,” Mr. Patel said. “It’s often hard to raise money for that, people want to raise money for things that are new and exciting, but Mark’s gift makes those new and exciting things possible.”