(Yicai Global) April 2 -- China Vanke's employees have today stepped up to make the largest single donation to a Chinese university foundation to advance medical research as the Covid-19 pandemic wreaks havoc around the world.

The staff gave away 200 million China Vanke shares, the Shenzhen-based real estate firm said in a statement today. 

The lot was worth CNY5.3 billion (USD746.3 million) based on yesterday's closing price of CNY26.63 (USD3.80). The shares [SHE:000002] rose 1 percent to CNY26.88 this afternoon.

The proceeds will be used to form a special fund that contributes to establishing the Vanke School of Public Health that aims to become a world leader in epidemiology and health monitoring. The research fields include preventive medicine, Big Data in healthcare, as well as public health policy and management.

The timing for more work on epidemic prevention could not be more acute. "Public health will surely emerge from this pandemic as the most prominent subject globally," said Chairman Yu Liang. "Much more critical research work needs to be done, and done fast."

Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, former director-general of the World Health Organization, will be the first dean of the new institution. Vanke's founder Wang Shi will serve as a honorary director.

Editor: Emmi Laine