Despite a longtime rivalry, Minnesota Vikings fans and Green Bay Packers fans found common ground last week. David Mandelbaum, an ownership partner of the Vikings, unveiled a monetary gift to bolster cancer research at the University of Wisconsin during last Monday's game.

The donation from Mandelbaum, a New Jersey businessman and attorney, will help fund a joint initiative between UW and the University of Minnesota. Providing a momentary lull in enmity between the Packers and Vikings, Gov. Jim Doyle announced the $2.5 million donation during halftime of the two teams' football game Nov. 21.

"We truly appreciate Mr. Mandelbaum's generosity, and his gift is truly visionary," Doyle said in a release. "This gift will bring the two institutions close and allow for greater collaboration."

The gift will go to the UW-Madison Eye Research Institute and is aimed at encouraging continued research effort between scientists at UW and UM and aid their cancer studies.

The goal of the research initiative is to develop new drug treatments for melanoma, a form of cancer affecting the skin and eyes.

"In this particular case, [the money] will be applied to studying an eye tumor — melanoma," UW Eye Research Institute Director Dan Albert said. "We're trying to find new and effective treatments for melanoma."

Albert said the cancer can be fatal in humans, adding Mandelbaum's gift will not only further science, but could also save lives in the future through supporting cancer research.

"About 15 to 20 percent of melanomas occur in the eye," Albert, who is also a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at UW, said. "It's the most common eye tumor."

According to Albert, the specific cause of eye melanoma is unknown. However, he said ultra-violet radiation is a likely suspect for the characteristic genetic mutations that lead to the eye tumors.

The announcement was warmly welcomed by researchers at both schools, Albert said, noting he and his colleagues at the institute were "very grateful and very excited" when they heard the news.

The funding will allow the design, investigation and testing of drugs which could potentially treat eye melanoma, Albert said. The drug study will then continue on to research the treatments of eye melanoma in animal models, and will eventually lead to clinical drug trials in humans.

In a release, Doyle said the university research thrives under donations from its many benefactors.

"Much of what happens at the University of Wisconsin is due to thoughtful and generous people like David Mandelbaum," Doyle said.