One of Cincinnati's longtime banking leaders has pledged $5 million to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to create a multiple sclerosis treatment and research center.

        The gift from Oliver Waddell, former chief executive of Star Bancorp (now Firstar), is among the five largest individual gifts ever made to UC, said Mary Sue Cheeseman, assistant senior vice president for development at the medical center.

        The gift will be used to create an endowed research chair in honor of Mr. Waddell's wife, Virgilee, who has suffered from MS for 22 years. In addition to hiring a renowned scientist to lead a new research center, the gift will help pay for start-up costs and a team of scientists and support staff to launch the new lab.

        “I wanted to do something in honor of my wife. Plus I wanted to try to help fund the effort to find a cure,” Mr. Waddell said.

        MS is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that affects more than 300,000 Americans. More than twice as many women are affected as men.

        “Until now, many people have had to leave Cincinnati to be diagnosed and evaluated for MS,” said Dr. John Tew, medical director of the Neuroscience Institute, a joint venture of UC and the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati.

        In addition to MS studies, the “functional disorders” center supported by Mr. Waddell's gift will expand treatment and research for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and other brain-related disorders, Dr. Tew said.

        UC officials also hope Mr. Waddell's gift will set a new standard for philanthropy in Cincinnati.

        “This is a thought-changing kind of gift that could help change the philanthropic climate in this community,” Ms. Cheeseman said.

        Enquirer reporter Jeff McKinney contributed to this report.

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