Gavin and Ninetta Herbert.
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IRVINE, Calif.—Allergan founder Gavin Herbert and his wife, Ninetta, have pledged $5 million to advance retinal research at UC Irvine Health’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, the academic eyecare center named in his honor. The Herberts’ gift is dedicated to expanding the breadth and depth of research into the retina.

“As longtime champions of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, the Herberts have shown that community leaders can have an indelible impact on academic medicine and the future of health care,” said Dr. Michael J. Stamos, interim dean of the UC Irvine School of Medicine. “We are grateful for this generous estate gift, which makes possible future investigations that may explore ideas we cannot even imagine today.”

Physicians and scientists at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute address diverse aspects of eye health, from engineering an artificial cornea to preserving sight in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and from improved treatment for blepharospasms to a promising solution for dry age-related macular degeneration.

“Orange County has long been recognized as an international hub for eyecare companies,” Herbert said. “Many people worked long years to complement industry with a world-class academic eye center that would be an innovative partner and also provide the highest quality of care for the community. With that now in place at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, our gift will sustain the research that is vital to the institute’s long-term reputation as a global leader.”