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Jeffrey Lurie donated $50 million to launch the Lurie Autism Institute in partnership with CHOP and Penn Med. Credit: Riley Guggenhime
Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie donated $50 million to Penn Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to launch the Lurie Autism Institute, according to a Tuesday announcement.
The institute — spurred by "the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across lifespan" — intends to serve as "a global hub" for innovation, according to a CHOP press release. LAI was established to “spark a new era of scientific discovery in autism … to transform what’s possible for individuals and families worldwide,” Lurie said in the press release.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a “neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Over 75 million people live with ASD around the world, and LAI intends to be a “global hub for autism research that connects scientists, clinicians, families, students, and donors.”
The institute aims to “develop a better understanding of the genetics and complex biological processes underlying autism." It will “serve as global conveners for the best ideas in the field” through an annual International Symposium and the new Lurie Autism Prize for ASD Research.
LAI's commitments are backed by recent advancements in medical research, such as artificial intelligence, which the institute hopes to use to “analyze large-scale biological and behavioral data to identify new treatment targets and existing drugs that may be repurposed for ASD.”
An international search will be conducted to appoint LAI's founding director — who will be a “visionary leader" with expertise that helps drive the innovative mission of the institute forward. LAI will leverage the "shared commitment to innovation" of Penn Med and CHOP "to turn bold ideas into tangible change.”
“CHOP and Penn Medicine bring unmatched expertise and a proven record of innovation,” Lurie said in the press release.
The organizations have worked together in the past: they created the first FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy for cancers, gene therapy for blindness, and the first personalized CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy for rare metabolic diseases.
The Lurie family’s contribution will “build on the success of established programs” at Penn Med and CHOP by “bringing the top experts in the field together to make breakthroughs in autism research and care,” Madeline Bell, CEO of CHOP, said according to the press release.
LAI will also provide opportunities for new involvement in autism-related research, such as the Next-Generation Program in Autism Bioscience, a certificate program for PhD trainees and post-doctorates.
The Lurie family’s contributions to autism research began with the creation of the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, founded by Jeffrey Lurie’s mother in 1977. NLMFF has a history of supporting autism research, including those supported by academic institutions, such as the foundation’s support for the Yale Child Study Center and the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“We are honored to be part of making the Lurie Autism Institute possible,” Nancy Lurie Marks said in the press release. “CHOP and Penn Medicine have an incredible record of successful collaborations that result in real answers for people.”
Jeffrey Lurie has a history of supporting autism research — including through his role in founding the Eagles Autism Foundation in 2018. The foundation is responsible for the Eagle Autism Challenge, which consists of fundraising opportunities for participants to contribute to the organization. The eighth annual Eagles Autism Challenge — which took place on May 17 — raised over $10 million for autism research and care.
“My brother is autistic,” Jeffrey Lurie said to USA Today. “So for my family and me, we’ve been supporting the autism community for … decades.”
Lurie also helped create the NFL’s first in-stadium sensory room in 2019, which was updated in 2023 by CHOP.
“The Lurie Family’s commitment to this critical area of focus is inspiring, and we greatly appreciate the trust placed in us as we accelerate the next generation of ASD research and treatment,” Jonathan A. Epstein, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and executive vice president of the Penn Health System, said in the press release.
LAI also aims to “uncover how the diverse behaviors among the autism spectrum manifest and evolve across the lifespan” by using “advanced lab models” to explore the different aspects of autism.
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“The complex part of autism is there’s no single gene, there’s no single reason,” Lurie in the press release. “So it’s very research-based in order to get to the therapeutics.”
Lurie emphasized his desire to “move from awareness to change” by creating concrete developments in autism research.
“By investing in cutting-edge science and the infrastructure to move it forward, we’re aiming not just to understand autism more deeply — but to transform what’s possible for individuals and families worldwide,” Lurie said in the press release.
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