The Hastings Foundation of Pasadena has donated $12.5 million to the Keck School of Medicine of USC for lung disease research.

The gift announced on April 27 will be directed to the USC Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, which the foundation helped establish in 2014.

Its $12.5 million gift will help the center recruit leading scientists and continue research on how to better diagnose, treat and prevent such advanced lung diseases as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

“This generous support will enhance our research on serious pulmonary diseases that affect millions of people around the world and facilitate our development as a premier center for lung research,” said Zea Borok, director of the center and a professor of medicine and biochemistry and molecular medicine, in a statement.

The Hastings Foundation has supported lung-related research at the Keck School of Medicine for more than half a century. Since 1975, it has donated more than $45 million.

Health business reporter Dana Bartholomew can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @_DanaBart.