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and unhealthy tissue. The nature of 
this technology will also allow for more 
personalized healthcare for Henry Ford 
Health and NF patients.
This new institute will be housed 
within Henry Ford Health + Michigan 
State University’s new research building 
on Henry Ford Health’s east campus, 
which is set to open in 2027. The 
construction of this part of the overall 
new facility is expected to cost $50 
million and will be funded by the Gilbert 
Family Foundation. Additionally, the 
foundation has committed $190 million 
over 10 years to support operations and 
research.
The Gilbert Family Foundation 
and sister nonprofit NF Forward have 
invested nearly $100 million into 
research to cure neurofibromatosis.
The Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis 
Research Institute will be the first brick-
and-mortar institute solely dedicated to 
the disease.
“Nick Gilbert, to all those who knew 
him, was a force of nature,” said Bob 
Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford 

Health. “He was born with a disease that 
created a lot of obstacles for him, but he 
always had a smile, never once asking 
why me or being negative in any way. 
“The Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis 
Research Institute really takes that spirit 
of innovation, resilience, and it creates 
this new environment in the city of 
Detroit that’s going to draw researchers 
from around the world to be part of 
finding and accelerating a cure,” he 
added.
MSU Interim President Teresa K. 
Woodruff, Ph.D., said, “The opportunity 
for our joint research facility is to 
conjoin the strengths of world-class 

academia, clinical research and 
healthcare. As a result of this institutional 
engagement, Detroit will be known for 
groundbreaking research and patient 
care. MSU is proud to be part of bringing 
these plans to fruition.”

SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB AT 
HENRY FORD HEALTH
When Dan Gilbert suffered a stroke in 
2019, he said he “sought out the best care 
in the country and found it in Chicago at 
the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.”
Chicago-based Shirley Ryan 
AbilityLab, recognized by U.S. News & 
World Report as the best rehabilitation 

ABOVE: The Nick Gilbert 
Neurofibromatosis Research Institute will 
be housed in the Henry Ford Health + 
Michigan State University’s new research 
building in Detroit.

RIGHT: The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab will 
occupy three floors of the new Henry Ford 
Hospital patient tower.

