Foxconn's Terry Gou's interest in cancer research brings company execs to the University of Wisconsin center

MADISON - Foxconn executives have met with staff of the Carbone Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison — a sign of how far the economic ripples of a deal with the company might eventually extend.

Cancer research is a major priority of Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou, who lost his first wife and younger brother to the disease. He has reportedly donated hundreds of millions of dollars to cancer research and treatment through the National Taiwan University, which already has a strong connection to Wisconsin.

Ann-Lii Cheng, director of Taiwan National Taiwan University’s cancer center, is a former fellow at the UW cancer center.

Multiple sources confirmed that Foxconn executives and Carbone center officials have met to get acquainted and discuss potential areas of collaboration — another possible benefit of having the Taiwanese giant invest in Wisconsin.

“I know that there were discussions,” said one of the sources.

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As the world’s largest contract electronics maker, Foxconn already manufactures medical devices, giving the company another reason to seek connections to top health researchers and practitioners.

On March 12, Gou announced his support for efforts to improve cancer research and treatment through a new foundation and a China-based center for genome sequencing. 

Gou, a legendary entrepreneur in his native country, made the announcement on the 12th anniversary of the death of his first wife, Serena Lin, to breast cancer, according to a report at the time in the Taiwan News. 

"As a family member of a breast cancer patient, this pain has not subsided for 12 years. To beat cancer, it is necessary to thoroughly understand the nature of cancer," said Gou, who wants to aid in the compilation of a genetic database to help beat the disease. 

Established in 1938, the Carbone Cancer Center bills itself as the first such center founded by an American university. The center, which works on research, treatment and prevention of the disease, has ties with 300 UW faculty who collectively brought in more than $130 million in research funding in 2016. 

One of the UW center's major areas of focus is to use insights gleaned from genetics to help in the fight against cancer. 

Officials for the Carbone Center had no immediate comment on the meeting with Foxconn.