Celine Dion is giving $2 million to the University of Colorado for the study of autoimmune diseases.
The singer is establishing the Celine Dion chair at the university’s Anschutz campus.
The announcement was made earlier today at the premiere of her forthcoming documentary “I AM: Celine Dion” out later this month on Amazon Prme. Amanda Piquet, MD, FAAN, director of the Autoimmune Neurology Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, will be the inaugural chair holder.
Celine, of course, is battling Stiff Person Syndrome, an autoimmune disease itself.
A statement says: Resources from this fund will bolster Dr. Piquet’s focus on translational studies, a foundational component of her research program that emphasizes learning in real time from patients as they experience and recover from symptoms to fine-tune treatments for improved outcomes. Additional resources from this significant gift will provide financial support for students, research expenditures, participation in conferences, curriculum development and other initiatives prioritized by the chair holder.
So this is big news. Celine’s late husband, Rene Angelil, built her career and made her rich beyond imagination, and now the singer is giving back in a big way.
