Mr. and Mrs. Ligon believe in the marriage of medicine and engineering.

In 1997, an innovative businessman approached Gary Abrams, MD, professor and chair of ophthalmology, and asked, "Is it possible to create an artificial eye?" After talking with Dr. Abrams about the possibilities in this area, Robert Ligon pledged $5 million to Wayne State University and the Kresge Eye Institute to pursue research and development in artificial vision.

With that contribution, Ligon matched the largest gift ever given to the university by a single donor. In addition, he established the Ligon Research Center of Vision -- the only center in the world working on retinal and cortical implants to restore sight.

Ligon is an engineer and inventor who holds several patents and is interested in the combination of engineering and technology to advance biomedical causes. He is co-founder of L & L Products, Inc., a company that was established in 1958 and is based in Romeo, Mich. The company manufactures elastomer gasket and sealing products for the automotive industry.

The Ligon Center has brought together a group of multidisciplinary researchers from ophthalmology, neurosurgery, engineering, and anatomy. Together, they are advancing the fields of science and medicine in order to create retinal and cortical implants that will work with the healthy parts of the eye to at least partially restore sight.

"Mr. Ligon is truly visionary," said John Crissman, MD, interim dean of the Wayne State University School of Medicine. "This marriage of medicine and engineering is the type of advancement that can only take place in a comprehensive research university like Wayne State. It is only through collaborative programs like these that we will solve medical ills."

Ligon said he and his wife Gerry were happy to make this gift to WSU and KEI. "I am incredibly impressed with the talent and brilliance in this program," he said. "This is quite an undertaking, but one day, I believe we will cause the blind to see."