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Kellogg Eye Center Annual Report 2023-24
Gift from Bob and Patti Huiskamp Advances AMD Research
Bob and Patti Huiskamp are known for their dedication to helping others as generous philanthropists and active community volunteers. Recently, the couple made a gift of $250,000 to the Taubman Emerging Scholars Program at the University of Michigan to support the research of Thomas Wubben, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center.
Dr. Wubben specializes in vitreoretinal surgery and his research is identifying new ways to prevent vision loss from retinal degenerative diseases. His work on wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has identified how a protein activated in the cells of the eye can alter glycolysis—the process cells use to change sugar into energy. Glycolysis contributes to the formation of blood vessels characteristic of wet AMD, which can lead to irreversible vision loss. Dr. Wubben’s work is vitally important as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly 20 million Americans aged 40 and over are affected by AMD. Current AMD treatment requires frequent injections into the eye with varying results.
“We are excited to support Dr. Wubben’s skills and innovative research through the emerging scholar program,” said the Huiskamps. In addition to five years of research funding, as the Robert and Patricia Huiskamp Emerging Scholar, Dr. Wubben will also benefit from many opportunities for collaboration and mentoring within the Taubman Institute community. “I am truly honored and grateful to be appointed the Robert and Patricia Huiskamp Emerging Scholar, and it is a great recognition of the impactful work being done by all members of the laboratory,” said Dr. Wubben.
The Taubman Institute and the Taubman Emerging Scholars Program were established by the late A. Alfred Taubman who believed supporting the research of early-career scientists is critical to advancing biomedicine. Director of the program, Charles F. Burant, M.D., Ph.D., said, “Generous donors such as the Huiskamp family underwrite the Emerging Scholar grants, and we are extremely grateful for their forward-thinking philanthropy and interest in our researchers and their projects.”
Bob and Patti Huiskamp moved from Asheville, N.C. to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Bob became operations manager of the KVP Paper Mill for the James River Corporation. In 1993, Bob founded his own registered investment advisory business, N.V.N.G. Investments. Bob is an active volunteer and has served on the boards of the Kalamazoo Rotary, Family and Children Services, and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Like Bob, Patti has been involved in many community organizations including Junior League, Ministry with Community, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Gilmore Piano Festival. For the past 17 years, she has been director of the Kids Hope USA mentoring program at El Sol Elementary, a dual language school in Kalamazoo. The Huiskamps have two children and four grandchildren.
