The Endowment for Basic Sciences (EBS) supports basic science departments and units at the University of Michigan Medical School. The EBS facilitates interactions between the participating units for the benefit of all the participating units. Together, this group develops new research initiatives, facilitates collaborations and partnerships, and contributes to the recruitment of faculty. It recognizes outstanding individual contributions with the EBS Research Staff Award and the EBS Teaching Award.

The EBS is a virtual endowment, the interest from which is used to support basic science. It is governed by the chairs or directors of each participating unit and is led by a rotating chair elected by the members.

The EBS was established on June 30th, 2002, by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Dean of the Medical School, Allen Lichter, and the Heads of the participating units.