44 | SEPTEMBER 14 • 2023
OUR COMMUNITY
D
an and Jennifer Gilbert,
co-founders of the Gilbert
Family Foundation, announced
on Sept. 6 a historic partnership with
Henry Ford Health and the Shirley
Ryan AbilityLab, to bring a 72-bed
state-of-the-art physical medicine and
rehabilitation facility to Detroit.
The Gilbert Family Foundation also
announced the creation of the Nick
Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research
Institute in partnership with Henry
Ford Health + Michigan State University
Health Sciences.
The construction and operation
of these two initiatives will cost an
estimated $439 million over 10 years.
To bring the projects to life, the Gilbert
Family Foundation will contribute nearly
$375 million in grant funding.
NICK GILBERT
NEUROFIBROMATOSIS
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
“As a wife and a mother, the most
important thing to me is the health
and safety of my family,” said Jennifer
Gilbert. “Unfortunately, health is one of
those things that is sometimes out of our
control.”
Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic
disease that causes tumors to grow on
nerve pathways anywhere in the body.
After a short video highlighting the life
of their son Nick who died in May from
complications of NF, Jennifer Gilbert
said, “Nick always looked on the bright
side and inspired all of us. Nick’s fighting
spirit is shared with his father. Dan
continues to work on his recovery from
a stroke in 2019 with the support of our
family and his incredible team.
“As I reflect on Nick and Dan’s
journeys, I recognize that our family has
been privileged to have access to the best
care possible,” she added. “This isn’t the
reality for most Detroiters. We believed
that the people of Detroit deserved better,
so we decided to build something better.”
The Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis
Research Institute will collaborate with
research institutions and researchers
from around the world to create
novel disease models using organoid
technology and other research
methodologies. These organoids or “mini
organs in a dish” allow researchers to
rapidly test potential drug treatments to
see the positive and negative impacts of
those potential treatments on healthy
Gilbert Family Foundation to bring rehab hospital to Detroit
and create the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute.
A Transformational Gift
JACKIE HEADAPOHL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Nick Gilbert, who died from complications of
Neurofibromatosis in May
Dan and Jennifer
announced nearly
$375 million in
contributions to
improve access
to health care for
Detroit residents.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GILBERT FAMILY FOUNDATION