Andrew Viterbi Donates $5 Million to Sanford Burnham Prebys for AI Research

May 5, 2026
Andrew Viterbi, co-founder of Qualcomm, has donated $5 million to establish the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Distinguished Chair at Sanford Burnham Prebys' Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, supporting advancements in computational biology and biomedical research.

Andrew Viterbi, co-founder of Qualcomm Technologies, has donated $5 million to Sanford Burnham Prebys to support its Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, announced in a press release. The contribution establishes the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Distinguished Chair, which will be held by Yuk-Lap (Kevin) Yip, PhD, the center’s director and a specialist in computational biology and bioinformatics.

The Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence integrates expertise in AI, statistics, and genetics to analyze complex biological data. It recently introduced a computational biology tool that automates genome sequencing analysis, allowing researchers to decode entire genomes from multiple samples in a single experiment.

Viterbi’s gift aims to strengthen the institute’s research capacity and attract leading scientists focused on AI applications in human health. Sanford Burnham Prebys stated that the endowed chair will help advance discoveries at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, and medicine.

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