Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation. Attendees included the Morgan family, CHOP leaders, vendor partners and other supporters. Government officials were also on hand including Mayor Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, State Representative and Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris, State Senator Nikil Saval, and State Representative Ben Waxman.
In 2024, CHOP announced a philanthropic gift of $50 million from Mitchell L. Morgan, Dr. Hilarie L. Morgan and their family to name its state-of-the-art research facility – the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation. The construction project created over 500 construction jobs between 2022-2026. The facility will house hundreds of researchers, significantly expanding CHOP’s laboratory research capacity while creating synergies with clinical research activities conducted in the neighboring Roberts Center for Pediatric Research.
Key features include:
- The 350,000-square-foot building is 17 stories and has been thoughtfully designed inside and out to support collaboration, innovation, and scientific discovery.
- Seven (7) floors of flexible wet laboratory space will enable researchers to adapt and evolve their work as science advances.
- The dynamic IDEA Lab - designed to foster collaboration across disciplines.
- A state-of-the-art conference center that includes a lecture hall accommodating up to 240 people.
- Inviting outdoor spaces known as Schuylkill Green that will create connections on the bustling campus filled with amenities.
“The Morgan Center for Research and Innovation brings people together. Wet labs and dry labs are located side by side, allowing scientists conducting biomedical research to work seamlessly with data scientists, engineers, and computational researchers,” noted Susan Furth, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, CHOP. “Every aspect of this building was designed to support the evolving needs of science and the people who do it. It will help us attract outstanding pediatric researchers from around the world. It will provide spaces for learning, gathering, teaching, and connecting. In many ways, the Morgan Center shows us that innovation is not just about technology - it’s about removing barriers and helping researchers get to the point of discovery faster.”
Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan have supported CHOP for 40 years across several areas, including establishing the Morgan Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery, currently held by Peter Mattei, MD, FACS, FAAP. They are joined in championing CHOP’s mission by their children and children-in-law who are involved in many CHOP committees and children’s health initiatives:
- Jonathan and Alexandra Morgan;
- Jonathan represents Morgan Properties on CHOP’s Corporate Council and he and Alexandra served as Co-Chairs of Cheers for CHOP, an annual fundraiser benefiting some of the hospital’s core priorities, from 2020 to 2024.
- Brittany Morgan Kurz and Zachary Kurz;
- Brittany is on the board of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and a member of the Pediatric Support Committee at Weill Cornell Hospital, and Zach and Brittany are dedicated supporters of the Harlem Children’s Zone.
- Jason and Jessica Morgan;
- Jason is a member of CHOP’s Facilities Expansion Advisory Committee and, together with Jessica, they are engaged members of CHOP’s Young Leadership Alliance.
Learn more about the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation here.
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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation. Attendees included the Morgan family, CHOP leaders, vendor partners and other supporters. Government officials were also on hand including Mayor Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, State Representative and Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris, State Senator Nikil Saval, and State Representative Ben Waxman.
In 2024, CHOP announced a philanthropic gift of $50 million from Mitchell L. Morgan, Dr. Hilarie L. Morgan and their family to name its state-of-the-art research facility – the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation. The construction project created over 500 construction jobs between 2022-2026. The facility will house hundreds of researchers, significantly expanding CHOP’s laboratory research capacity while creating synergies with clinical research activities conducted in the neighboring Roberts Center for Pediatric Research.
Key features include:
- The 350,000-square-foot building is 17 stories and has been thoughtfully designed inside and out to support collaboration, innovation, and scientific discovery.
- Seven (7) floors of flexible wet laboratory space will enable researchers to adapt and evolve their work as science advances.
- The dynamic IDEA Lab - designed to foster collaboration across disciplines.
- A state-of-the-art conference center that includes a lecture hall accommodating up to 240 people.
- Inviting outdoor spaces known as Schuylkill Green that will create connections on the bustling campus filled with amenities.
“The Morgan Center for Research and Innovation brings people together. Wet labs and dry labs are located side by side, allowing scientists conducting biomedical research to work seamlessly with data scientists, engineers, and computational researchers,” noted Susan Furth, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, CHOP. “Every aspect of this building was designed to support the evolving needs of science and the people who do it. It will help us attract outstanding pediatric researchers from around the world. It will provide spaces for learning, gathering, teaching, and connecting. In many ways, the Morgan Center shows us that innovation is not just about technology - it’s about removing barriers and helping researchers get to the point of discovery faster.”
Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan have supported CHOP for 40 years across several areas, including establishing the Morgan Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery, currently held by Peter Mattei, MD, FACS, FAAP. They are joined in championing CHOP’s mission by their children and children-in-law who are involved in many CHOP committees and children’s health initiatives:
- Jonathan and Alexandra Morgan;
- Jonathan represents Morgan Properties on CHOP’s Corporate Council and he and Alexandra served as Co-Chairs of Cheers for CHOP, an annual fundraiser benefiting some of the hospital’s core priorities, from 2020 to 2024.
- Brittany Morgan Kurz and Zachary Kurz;
- Brittany is on the board of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and a member of the Pediatric Support Committee at Weill Cornell Hospital, and Zach and Brittany are dedicated supporters of the Harlem Children’s Zone.
- Jason and Jessica Morgan;
- Jason is a member of CHOP’s Facilities Expansion Advisory Committee and, together with Jessica, they are engaged members of CHOP’s Young Leadership Alliance.
Learn more about the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation here.
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Kaitlyn Dvorin
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation