Krenicki Family Funds Purdue Neuroscience Directorship

Purdue University’s Institute for Integrative Neuroscience has received a multimillion-dollar gift from alumnus John Krenicki Jr. and his wife, Donna.

The funds will endow the John and Donna Krenicki Directorship, a position that will lead the newly established institute, which pursues research to alleviate the suffering associated with trauma, disease or disorders of the brain and nervous system. The institute pursues research in innovative brain and behavior technologies, aging, neurodegeneration, neurotrauma, neuropathology, development, genetics and neuropharmacology.

John Krenicki Jr. and Donna Krenicki. Courtesy of Purdue University/the Krenickis.

“The Krenickis have enabled us to pursue the finest scientists available to lead this breakthrough program,” said Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue.

”Neuroscience is really in the first or second inning, and holds tremendous potential,” said John Krenicki. “We anticipate advances similar in scope and significance to what has happened in genomics over the last five years.”

The donation was made as a part of Purdue’s annual Day of Giving and the Ever True campaign, which seeks to raise $2.019 billion by 2019, the 150th anniversary of Purdue's founding.

Krenicki is a senior operating partner with the private equity investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and serves as chairman of Wilsonart International, CHC Group Ltd. He is the former General Electric vice chairman and president and CEO of GE Energy. Donna Krenicki is a trustee of the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Mass. The Krenickis cited a personal connection to the field of neuroscience and its ability to advance rapidly as motivating factors behind their support.