Edinburgh University hits fundraising goal for Rowling MS clinic

Back in August of 2010, we reported that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling had donated £10 million to Edinburgh University to help open a research clinic for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the disease that took the life of her mother Anne at the age of 45, and was slated to be named the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic in her honor.

Today, it was announced that the fundraising campaign by the university has reached its goal of £350 million and the research clinic is set to open next year. The announcement marks the end of a six-year fundraising drive to finance research, maintaining the buildings and providing financial aid for students.

According to an article in Scotland’s STV News, the University director of development and alumni engagement had this to say:

“What is significant, and what the university is most proud of, is that the campaign has funded projects that have the potential to change people’s lives for the better. Fundraising has become an integral part of the university and we will continue to work with supporters to ensure that all areas of the university can flourish.”

In addition to the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, projects receiving support include The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research and the McKern Fellowship, which funds research into the treatment of pain and distress during pregnancy and labour. Other beneficiaries include the Centre for Regenerative Medicine, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, and the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies.