In 1957 Nathan 0. Kaplan and Martin Kamen founded the Graduate Department of Biochemistry at Brandeis. Louis Rosenstiel, who had been the head of the Schenley Corporation for many years, was interested at this time in supporting a research institute dedicated to research on a form of cancer. President Sachar, the founder of Brandeis, explained to him that the best way to learn about cancer was to study the broader problem, in particular to do basic research. It quickly became clear that the best way to do basic research was in an institute of biochemists, and the best institute of biochemists could be established in a small, new university. Such a group would function best with graduate students. Thus, it was inevitable that the Graduate Department of Biochemistry should be established. Mr. Rosenstiel was one of the most perspicacious donors anywhere, a rare individual who preferred to "buy brains, not bricks." He gave $1 ,OOO,OOO to start the Department and supplemented this later with additional support to the Department and the University. Kaplan and Kamen were able to turn this investment into a 2300% profit from various sources, to provide a strong base of support for the Department.
At that time Brandeis University was less than ten years old. The administration was housed entirely in a small white house, the library was in the former stable of the Middlesex Veterinary School, and the whole School of Science was in one large glass box, the Kalman building. The entire Biochemistry Department moved into two teaching laboratories in this building and started to do research. Nate and Martin immediately brought in a flock of productive graduate students, postdoctorals, and physicians from all over the world to work with the younger as well as the older members of the Department. These members consisted at that point of