The Fraternal Order of Eagles delivered the first $5 million installment of a $25 million pledge to establish the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center.

Eagles leaders presented the gift during a pre-game ceremony Oct. 3 to UI officials at Kinnick Stadium one year after making the pledge.

The UI will use the money to recruit and support the work of diabetes biomedical researchers and to fund interdisciplinary research program, according to a UI press release.

The money will provide four endowed chairs and two faculty fellowships, in addition to funding research programs.

The World Health Organization has declared diabetes a public-health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes affects around 24 million Americans, 8 percent of the population.

— by Regina Zilbermints