In 2008 Michigan businessman and philanthropist A. Alfred Taubman provided the initial funds to establish the institute, which now is part of the University of Michigan Medical School. Our mission is to provide the university’s finest medical scientists the freedom, resources and collaborative environment they need to push the boundaries of medical discovery, to produce breakthroughs in cures and treatment of disease and ultimately to alleviate human suffering. The slogan of the Institute, “Where scientists create cures…” incorporates our mission of helping physician-scientists – doctors with active patient practices – speed the development of effective treatment for some of the most devastating illnesses. Currently the institute supports the work of 19 physician-researchers through the Taubman Scholar and Taubman Emerging Scholar programs. The institute also is home to the Consortium for Stem Cell therapies, the university's stem cell derivation lab. And starting in 2012, the institute sponsors the annual $100,000 Taubman Prize for Excellence in Translational Medical Science, which is open to physician-scientists worldwide. Dr. Eva Feldman, the Russel N. DeJong Professor of Neurology, is director of the institute.