Alex and Ani donates $1M to URI

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The University of Rhode Island will name a pharmaceutical lab the Alex and Ani Impact Lab in recognition of a gift of $1 million donated to support researchers.
The donation is intended to support natural product research and the discovery of plant-based molecules to improve human health and well-being, the university said. The lab is located in the $75 million College of Pharmacy building on the Kingston campus.
URI President David M. Dooley welcomed the association with Alex and Ani, which he described as a “world class brand” and said the university is grateful for the support.
“With our faculty, and our undergraduate and graduate students all contributing to ever expanding possibilities for research, innovation and discovery in this lab, we are confident that the internationally recognized work being conducted here will have a positive impact on our university as well as the state’s economy,” Dooley said in a statement.
Carolyn Rafaelian, founder, creative director and CEO of Alex and Ani, called the university one of the state’s “crown jewels” and said she was eager to support its research efforts.
The gift will name an existing lab operated by biomedical sciences Professor David Rowley within the pharmacy building, Dooley said. The 144,000 square-foot, five-story building opened in September of 2012. Built to support pharmaceutical teaching and research, it is the largest academic building on campus.
Rowley is now working with Ocean Spray to research the beneficial compounds in cranberries.
“The Alex and Ani gift will enhance the work being done in the lab,” E. Paul Larrat, interim dean of the College of Pharmacy, said in a statement. “The discoveries made by researching these molecules could have far reaching effects both at the early discovery phase and at the end use phase, including product usage.”

No posts to display