A $5 million donation from Qualcomm co-founder Andrew Viterbi will establish an endowed research chair at a leading biomedical institute, fueling the use of artificial intelligence to decode complex diseases and speed the search for new treatments. The gift creates the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Distinguished Chair in the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.
The center brings together experts in AI, statistics, and genetics to mine vast datasets for patterns that can inform scientists and clinicians. It recently unveiled a powerful computational biology tool that automates genome sequencing analysis, allowing researchers to decode the complete genomes of many patient samples, animal models, or cultured cells in a single experiment. Dr. Yuk Lap (Kevin) Yip, the center’s director and a globally recognized leader in computational biology, will serve as the inaugural holder of the chair. His work harnesses advanced analytics and machine learning to uncover insights from complex biological data, accelerating progress in disease research and precision medicine.
Viterbi, who co-founded Qualcomm and invented the widely used Viterbi Algorithm for error correction in digital communications, said he holds deep confidence in the institute’s leadership to steward the investment with vision and purpose. “Biomedical research and collaboration generate momentum used to advance computing and artificial intelligence,” Viterbi said. “It’s my hope that this gift will enable the Center for Data Science and AI to empower leading minds to create the breakthroughs that will advance human health.”
Institute president and CEO Dr. David Brenner called Viterbi a force who pairs extraordinary intellect with a deep commitment to advancing human knowledge. “With this remarkable gift, he is investing in the bold vision of our Center for Data Science and AI where world class scientists are redefining how we understand biology and disease,” Brenner said. “Together, we are unlocking the power of artificial intelligence to drive discoveries at a scale and speed once unimaginable, and to shape the future of medicine for generations to come.”
The endowed chair is expected to help the institute attract and retain top scientific talent at the intersection of data science, AI, and human health. Researchers will continue to develop tools that analyze biological data more rapidly and precisely, with the goal of translating those insights into real world advances for patients facing cancer, neurologic disorders, heart disease, and metabolic conditions. The gift marks the latest step in a growing push to apply machine learning to medicine, a field that holds the promise of transforming how diseases are detected, understood, and treated.