Children’s Health System of Texas’ research arm announced that it has received $30 million worth of grants by a few of the city’s philanthropic foundations.
The Hamon Charitable Foundation gave $15 million, the Pogue Family Foundation put in $10 million, and the Moody Foundation has designated $2.7 million be used on equipment and recruitment. The Hoblitzelle Foundation—named after Southwestern Medical Foundation cofounder Karl Hoblitzelle—added $2 million, the Constantin Foundation gave $1.55 million, and the Pollock Foundation donated $1 million. The Lupe Murchison Foundation offered $300,000.
The gifts will all go to the Children’s Research Institute for recruiting and retaining researchers and subsidizing their work. The CRI was formed in 2011 and received its first financial donations in 2012.
“To say we are humbled and inspired by these tremendous gifts is an understatement,” said Children’s Health CEO and president Christopher J. Durovich. “The Children’s Research Institute and its director, Dr. Sean Morrison, are revolutionizing the future of pediatric medicine, the impact of which has no boundaries. We are proud that these outstanding foundations in our community want to join the revolution.”
Dr. Sean Morrison, whom D CEO profiled last year, leads the program. He also leads a research program in the Hamon Laboratory for Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, an effort that hopes to recruit 15 principal investigators to oversee labs of eight to 15 scientists. Since arriving in 2012, he has recruited six new faculty members and 66 staff scientists. Children’s says his people have generated $8 million in peer-reviewed external grants to help buttress the philanthropy gifts.
