Couple donates $10 million to Medical College

Medical College of Wisconsin has received $10 million to invest in highly sensitive equipment that can identify changes in a body's molecules that may provide insight on the development of diseases such as cancer.

Doctors Robert and Patricia Kern provided the funds, which rank as the largest single private donation given to the school, according the college. The Kerns founded Generac Power Systems, a Milwaukee area generator manufacturer.

The money will go toward developing a mass spectrometry innovation center on the Wauwatosa campus. Eventually, school officials expect scientists will see improvements in medical diagnoses and treatments and have a better understanding of the human body's systems due to the research this donation will support.

As part of the donation, the Medical College will recruit leading scientists from around the world to work with the sophisticated technology.