Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has received a $30 million grant from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, a charity focused on supporting organizations and programs that benefit children and youth in metro Atlanta.
The grant consists of $25 million to help fund a new pediatric research building on the Emory University campus and $5 million to support the Marcus Autism Center, expanding research efforts and advocating for improved outcomes for children with autism and related disorders.
"The relationship between Children's and Emory has never been better, and this incredibly generous grant will allow us to expand our research partnership," said Doug Hertz, chairman of the Children's board of trustees. "The pediatric research facility enabled by this grant will enhance our ability to attract top scientists and to drive discovery of new knowledge."
Hertz said research in the new facility will provide the necessary infrastructure for investigators conducting research to improve the quality of care for pediatric patients.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is composed of three hospitals and 16 neighborhood locations and is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the United States. Research to be conducted in the new building will include cardiac, cancer, vaccines and new drug discoveries.
"This is a significant endorsement of the great assets we have in Atlanta and illustrates the possibilities that can happen for children as we nurture and grow unique collaborations and partnerships," said Doug Ivester, chairman of the board of Emory's Woodruff Health Sciences Center.
Ivester noted that the grant has implications for the city of Atlanta as a growing research community, building on collaborations with Emory, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Morehouse School of Medicine and others.