The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state stem cell agency, has provided a grant of $43.6 million to help pay for construction, and its chair, Robert Klein, joined in the ground breaking. In addition, at least $130 million will come from philanthropic contributions, including a $75 million gift from Lorry I. Lokey, the Business Wire founder for whom the building is named. Other gifts include $10 million from Mill Valley, Calif., investment banker John Scully and his wife Regina, and a gift from Thomas Steyer, a university trustee, and his wife Kat Taylor.

"Chances are even I will benefit from what happens here in the next five, 10 years," Lokey, 81, told the scientists at the event. "I wish you the best, because my life might depend on you."

Pasta is related to stem cell research, pretty sure. Researching now.