The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) has received a $23 million gift from Cary and Will Singleton to advance research into Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This donation will support the construction and equipping of Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall, the future home of the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, known as UCI MIND.
Of the total gift, $13 million is designated for the hall’s construction. The remaining $10 million will fund the acquisition of advanced MRI and PET scanners. This investment follows nearly $80 million in philanthropic support announced in 2025, which included over $50 million from the Quilter family, initiating plans for the new facility. Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The neuroimaging scanners, funded by the Singletons' gift, will allow researchers to study the living brain’s structure, function, and biology. These technologies are designed to identify changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other brain conditions, track their development over time, and assess the effectiveness of potential treatments. Researchers will be able to integrate participants’ brain images with cognitive assessments, biomarkers, genetics, and health history, which can reveal patterns not easily discovered through single research methods.
Chancellor Howard Gillman observed that the Singletons' generosity would provide researchers with tools and opportunities that could fundamentally alter the pace of discovery. The expanded space and imaging capacity in Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall will also support larger and more complex clinical trials, which are vital for determining the safety and efficacy of new developments and for generating evidence to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Joshua Grill, director of UCI MIND, stated, "This gift will allow us to ask more ambitious questions and answer them with greater precision." He highlighted the integration of advanced imaging with laboratory science, clinical expertise, and research participants’ experiences to better understand dementia development and accelerate the evaluation of promising approaches.
Cary and Will Singleton were particularly drawn to UCI MIND’s collaborative model. Cary Singleton highlighted the importance of UCI MIND’s collaborative approach as key to their decision to get involved. UCI MIND connects more than 70 faculty members from 25 academic departments, linking laboratory research with longitudinal studies, clinical trials, and community engagement. Its Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center operates through 10 collaborative cores, encompassing clinical research, neuropathology, biomarkers, data science, and community outreach. This structure allows scientists to approach dementia from multiple directions. Will Singleton expressed their hope to see significant progress in understanding the causes of various forms of dementia and its eventual prevention.
UC Irvine has conducted research into Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias for over four decades. UCI MIND is one of only 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) nationally, and one of only 10 in California. It is the sole center with this designation in Orange County, reflecting UC Irvine’s scientific leadership and research infrastructure.
The institute’s achievements include creating the first Alzheimer’s disease mouse model to develop both plaques and tangles, a model now used by over 150 scientists in more than 20 countries. UCI MIND also established the first federally funded induced pluripotent stem cell core within the national Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center network. Its work includes internationally recognized research on the oldest old and on the connection between Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease, along with numerous training programs for future clinicians and scientists.
Recent grants further underscore the strength of UCI MIND’s work. In 2025, the institute received an $18 million, five-year NIA grant to lead a multicenter study of limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE), a form of dementia that can resemble Alzheimer’s disease. This study aims to establish the nation’s first trial-ready group of LATE patients and improve diagnosis. This award followed a $21 million renewal supporting UCI MIND’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
The Orange County Community Foundation helped facilitate the Singletons’ gift through their donor-advised fund. Shelley Hoss, CEO of the Orange County Community Foundation, commented that the foundation was pleased to connect the couple’s philanthropic goals with UC Irvine’s research strengths.
While the Singletons’ gift significantly contributes to completing and equipping Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall, additional philanthropic backing remains essential. Future needs include funding for construction, research technology, clinical trials, faculty expansion, training, and community programs. Joshua Grill also noted that scientific advancement relies on individuals willing to share expertise, participate in research, and invest in possibilities that may benefit future generations.
