University of New England

Nexus

Making Dreams Reality
Biomedical Researcher
Peter Morgane, Ph.D.

Six months ago, Peter Morgane, Ph.D., a researcher and professor of pharmacology at UNECOM, awoke from a sound sleep with an inspiring idea … why not change his estate plans to include UNECOM’s biomedical research building, a place where the funds would have the largest impact?

With no direct heirs, Morgane had already intended to gift his estate to a selection of charities, a selection that now includes the biomedical research building with a $1 million gift in memory of his late wife, Cécile. This generous gift creates a legacy for Morgane, who has been associated with UNE for over 20 years.

Since 1985, Morgane has been a faculty member and researcher in UNECOM’s pharmacology department. He came to UNE following a long career in research, primarily at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology. He has published 227 full papers in peer-reviewed journals, written chapters in books and edited the four volume series, Handbook of the Hypothalamus. Over his career, he has garnered more than $4.5 million in NIH and NSF grants for research that took him to Mexico, Florida and Massachusetts. While living in Massachusetts, he and Cécile summered in Maine and loved it enough to eventually move here.

Morgane’s association with UNE has grown over time. Starting as a part-time independent contractor, he gradually increased his time, focusing mostly on his research. He is currently working on a collaborative project investigating the basic principles of the serotonin and dopamine systems in the brain and studying the organization and function of the extended limbic brain involved in motivation and emotion. He lectures several times a year to first and second year medical students on neuropharmacology and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Morgane understands well the importance of expanding research opportunities here at UNECOM and has followed the progress of fundraising efforts from the beginning.

When asked why he decided to support the biomedical research facility project at the leadership level he says, “I just had a good feeling about it and its prospects for advancement. Nothing should ever stay static. We should move ahead as fast as we can with the good people that we have recruited and expect to recruit. This early core of researchers are doing well - they like the place and it is really important that we keep them and continue to attract additional productive researchers.”

Morgane hopes his gift will spur others to give, likening his support to “an enzyme in the system” to get things going.

For more information on the biomedical research building campaign, please visit www.une.edu/giving/com.asp or contact Erin A. Peck, associate director of development at (207) 221-4598.

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