Wisconsin's Kohler Co. Establishes MCW Cardiovascular Chair

Making its largest gift ever to the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Kohler Co. has established an endowed chair that will expand the resources available for scientific study in cardiovascular health. The $1 million donation has created the Kohler Co. Chair in Cardiovascular Research.

David R. Harder, PhD, Director of the College's Cardiovascular Center, has been named the first Kohler Co. Professor in Cardiovascular Research. Dr. Harder, Professor of Physiology, of Medicine, and of Pediatrics, is internationally recognized as an expert in the regulation of blood flow in the brain. His pioneering research has profound implications for the treatment of stroke, heart disease and cancer.

"As a Wisconsin company, Kohler has made a gift that potentially touches the lives of many of its employees and neighbors, since heart disease affects so many in this state," said T. Michael Bolger, JD, Medical College of Wisconsin President and CEO. "Kohler Co.'s commitment will elevate the reputation of the Medical College and our Cardiovascular Center while advancing the research initiatives that give us the potential to help the most people."

For nearly 30 years, Dr. Harder has received continuous funding for his research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Veterans Administration (VA).

He is the principal investigator on an NIH program project grant studying cerebral blood flow, was PI on a second program project grant studying vascular biology, and he has received the VA Research Career Scientist Award. He has published more than 215 research articles in scientific journals.

"I am honored to be named the first Kohler Co. Professor," Dr. Harder said. "The Kohler Co. is a keystone in the community, and receiving this named chair brings me closer to the community at large."

An alumnus of the Medical College's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Harder received the Distinguished Service Award from the College in 2004, the highest honor the institution can bestow upon a faculty member.

"A guiding principle of Kohler is to live on the leading edge in product and process," said Natalie A. Black, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for the Kohler Co. She is also a Medical College of Wisconsin Trustee. "We are proud to learn that Dr. David Harder, the founder and current director of the Cardiovascular Center, and renowned researcher in cardiovascular disease, is the first recipient of our endowed professorship. Equally important is the Center's success in taking research discoveries from the lab to the bedside to care for the afflicted. That is what matters most."

The process of converting laboratory concepts to patient care realities is known as translational research, an activity in the Cardiovascular Center that will be positively affected by the Kohler Co. gift.

"Income generated by the chair's endowment is secure, stable and free from the dictates of outside agencies, allowing for the creative exploration of new ideas," Dr. Harder said. "The endowment will be used to help recruit faculty and bring in both MD and PhD fellows to do cutting-edge cardiovascular research."

Such research is important now more than ever. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Wisconsin and the nation. The American Heart Association estimated the cost of heart disease and stroke at $431.8 billion, when considering hospital visits, medications, lost wages and death.

"Kohler Co. is proud to partner with the Medical College of Wisconsin in establishing this endowment fund to support ongoing research in the fight against cardiovascular disease," Black said. "Currently, heart disease accounts for about one-third of all deaths in the United States, and the Medical College, through its highly acclaimed Cardiovascular Center, is committed to finding a cure. Kohler shares the Center's commitment through this gift."

Founded in 1873, the Kohler Co. is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, and is known as a worldwide leader in plumbing products. The Kohler family of businesses extends beyond the kitchen and bath to include engines and generators, furniture and accessories, cabinetry and tile, as well as resort, recreation and real estate.

The Kohler Co. has long had a strong interest in the arts and has supported programs in entrepreneurial studies and engineering. The company has also provided scholarships to the Medical College for students in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

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