VCU Receives $25M from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Virginia Commonwealth School of Engineering announced Thursday it has received a $25 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to build on its efforts to reduce the costs of lifesaving medications.

The grant will build on VCU’s Medicines for All Initiative, which has found ways to drive down the cost of three drugs used to treat HIV patients. The new grant will turn the program into the Medicines for All Institute, allowing it to grow and test multiple medicines at one time.

The grant was announced Thursday at event held at the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, which was attended by Gov. Terry McAuliffe and VCU President Michael Rao.