University of Iowa officials have begun a $500 million fundraising campaign for medical research and patient care at the Carver College of Medicine and the UI Hospitals and Clinics.

"Iowa First: Our Campaign for Breakthrough Medicine" will focus on funding research for medical research such as cancer, eye diseases, neuroscience, and aging-related diseases, according to a university press release.

Leadership-phase fundraising began in June 2006 and raised more than $314 million.

The campaign will run through June 30, 2013.

— by Luke Voelz