Eagles

Jeffrey Lurie Gives $50 Million to CHOP and Penn Medicine for New Autism Center

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jun 10th, 2025 · 10:35 AM EDT

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PHILADELPHIA (June 10, 2025) — A $50 million gift to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine will create an ambitious joint initiative called the Lurie Autism Institute to drive discoveries with transformative impact for those living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The gift, from the Lurie family, is the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan.

Over 75 million people worldwide are living with ASD, including one in 31 children and one in 45 adults in the U.S. The Lurie family’s investment will strategically leverage CHOP and Penn Medicine’s strengths in autism research and translation to seek answers to the most challenging and important questions around ASD. Rooted in a collaboration between world-renowned centers in pediatric research and academic medicine, the Institute leverages a shared commitment to innovation to turn bold ideas into tangible change. This first-of-its kind Institute aims to be a global hub for autism research that connects scientists, clinicians, families, students, and donors.

“We established the Lurie Autism Institute to spark a new era of scientific discovery in autism. CHOP and Penn Medicine bring unmatched expertise and a proven record of innovation, and together, they have the tools to unlock answers that have eluded the field for far too long,” said Jeffrey Lurie, Chairman and CEO of the Philadelphia Eagles and founder of the Eagles Autism Foundation. “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.” 

Powered by Penn Medicine and CHOP’s long history of partnering on transformative breakthroughs for the care of both children and adults, the Lurie Autism Institute is poised to make fresh discoveries that will reshape how we understand and treat autism.

That’s part of the press release. It goes on to say that the institute will launch clinical trials, develop more advanced lab models, conduct autism research, and create an “Autism Bioscience” certificate program for PhD trainees and postdocs. There will be an international symposium and a research award as well. The whole thing is pretty sick. They’re embarking on an international search to find the first director of this place, who no doubt has accomplished much more in life than you and I.

But yeah, Jeffrey Lurie, what an owner! This guy brings emotional intelligence to the locker room. He creates a classy organization full of respectful and courteous athletes, unlike the criminal Cowboys. He wins multiple Super Bowls and passionately defends the tush push and does all kinds of charitable things throughout the region. He’s out here creating a legacy both on and off the field. The Philadelphia Eagles continue to be the NFL’s model organization, both on and off the field. Every other franchise should strive to be like the Birds.