The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) today announced a landmark $27 million gift from Tim and Barbara Michels and the Michels Family Foundation to the MCW Cancer Center — this represents the largest personal gift ever to the MCW Cancer Center. In recognition of this transformational investment, MCW’s new cancer research facility will be officially named the “Medical College of Wisconsin Michels Center for Cancer Discovery.”
This gift is deeply personal for the Michels family. Their daughter, Sophie, was just 11 years old when she was diagnosed in 2012 with choroid plexus carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer. Now, nearly 15 years later, Sophie is healthy and thriving — a testament to the renowned precision oncology expertise and research-driven care of MCW’s physicians and scientists. It’s also a journey that has further cemented the family’s commitment to accelerating leading-edge cancer research and expanding access to personalized cancer care.
“Our family knows firsthand what it means to face a rare cancer diagnosis with few treatment options, and even fewer answers,” said Tim and Barbara Michels. “We’re investing in the Medical College of Wisconsin because we believe in their extraordinary scientists and physicians to turn today’s breakthrough cancer discoveries into tomorrow’s cures. No family should have to face cancer without hope, and that’s exactly what this gift is about — giving more families hope and giving cancer researchers the resources to deliver on it.”
A Bold Commitment to Advancing Cancer Research Breakthroughs
This transformational gift will enable the MCW Cancer Center to:
Bring additional world-class precision oncology talent to MCW, attracting preeminent investigators and clinicians who can propel the next generation of cancer breakthroughs.
Enhance its technological infrastructure to power the translation of scientific discoveries into life-changing therapies and clinical advancements for cancer patients.
Train and develop the next generation of cancer scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs who will shape the future of oncology care.
Expand access to precision oncology-driven prevention and early detection strategies, with a particular focus on rural and medically underserved communities throughout Wisconsin.
“We’re grateful to the Michels family for their remarkable kindness. The philanthropic leadership they’ve demonstrated will only further elevate the Medical College of Wisconsin as a burgeoning hub for exceptional medical research and a premier destination for leading cancer investigators and clinicians,” said John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, MCW’s president and chief executive officer. “Cancer is one of the toughest health challenges we face. The Michels’ transformational investment ensures groundbreaking cancer discoveries can move quickly from our scientists’ labs to a patient’s bedside. This is where their gift’s true impact will be measured – in the countless lives that will be saved.”
Tackling Rare and Hard-to-Treat Cancers
The Michels family’s experience with Sophie’s rare cancer diagnosis underscores a critical gap in cancer research funding and awareness. According to the National Institutes of Health, a rare cancer is defined as one affecting fewer than 15 people per 100,000 annually. Yet, collectively, rare cancers account for approximately 25% of all new U.S. adult and pediatric cancer diagnoses. For many rare cancer types, research to identify causes or develop prevention and early detection strategies remains difficult and chronically underfunded.
By investing in precision oncology — the science of tailoring cancer prevention, detection, and treatment to each patient’s unique genetic and biological profile — the Michels’ gift will help ensure that patients with rare cancers in Wisconsin and beyond have access to the most advanced, targeted care available, including novel clinical trials.
“We’re at a defining moment for cancer research. The generosity of the Michels family will serve as a catalyst for Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center scientists to think bigger and bolder than ever before in pursuit of a future where cancer is detected earlier, treated more precisely, and survival is the expectation rather than the exception,” said Gustavo Leone, PhD, director of the MCW Cancer Center; senior associate dean of cancer research; and professor of pathology at MCW. “At the Michels Center for Cancer Discovery, our mission is simple but ambitious: to turn the pioneering breakthroughs happening here into progress that revolutionizes and alters the course of cancer for generations to come.”
About the Medical College of Wisconsin Michels Center for Cancer Discovery
The newly named Michels Center for Cancer Discovery opened in August 2025 and is the only facility in eastern Wisconsin exclusively dedicated to cancer research. The state-of-the-art 161,000-square-foot building is currently home to more than 300 scientists and staff.
The physician-scientists and researchers based at the Michels Center for Cancer Discovery are recognized around the world for their contributions to the field, including publishing policy-guiding studies, developing practice-changing therapies, and spearheading clinical trials that offer patients innovative cancer treatment options.
A formal ceremony to dedicate the building will be held on MCW’s Milwaukee campus this fall.
About Tim Michels and the Michels Family Foundation
Tim Michels is co-owner of Michels Corporation, a global energy and infrastructure company headquartered in Brownsville, Wis., with offices in Milwaukee. The Michels Family Foundation reflects the family’s commitment to giving back to their community and supporting causes that create a meaningful, lasting impact.