A Culture of Innovation

Philadelphia is the cell and gene therapy capital of the world.

Researchers in lab

It’s all here. The resources, the clinical infrastructure and the most brilliant minds in science. This is a place where big ideas come to life. Welcome to Cellicon Valley.

Philadelphia is “Cellicon Valley”

Info Graphic: $1 Billion+ investment capital raised. 54% college graduates retained between 2000 and 2014. First FDA-approved gene therapy & cell therapy.
Info Graphic: 4,900+ scientists in biomedical engineering, chemistry and the life sciences. 4 recent FDA-approved cell and gene therapies with organs in PHL. 30+ cell and gene therapy companies.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is uniquely positioned at the heart of this epicenter of discovery, alongside some of the nation’s best biomedical research institutes. Set apart by our culture of innovation, researchers and scientists at CHOP are developing — and delivering — cell and gene therapies that are revolutionizing the next generation of medicine.

Our Unique Culture

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is a resource-rich environment where the brightest minds in medicine have access to the most advanced technologies in the world. We have built extraordinary teams that include scientists and researchers from many different backgrounds because we have seen, first-hand, that diverse teams come up with the most innovative ideas. And our specific interest in rare diseases enables us to learn from never-before-seen conditions and develop first-of-their-kind therapies.

We take our discoveries from the bench to the bedside — offering real solutions to real children. Our excellence in clinical trials and clinical care is world-renowned, and we have a proven track record of success in the delivery of novel therapeutics.

This environment of innovation has put us at the cutting edge of several breakthrough cell and gene therapies — and there are new discoveries on the horizon.

CHOP is like Disneyland for scientists

Meet Our Breakthrough Makers

Our doctors and scientists discuss their most recent innovations – and share their “breakthrough moments” – on “Breaking Through,” a podcast hosted by our president and CEO, Madeline Bell.

Our Incredible Teams

Our teams — global leaders in cell and gene therapy — bring visionary research from the lab to the bedside. Inspired by our environment of innovation, these powerhouse teams are solving unsolvable problems and curing devastating childhood diseases.

Our researchers talking

Here are a few of our most innovative partnerships:

Fueling Breakthroughs

Some of the best ideas in the world get their start at CHOP. With support from our generous donors, we have created a unique innovation ecosystem that brings together the best minds in science and medicine in a resource-rich environment. The result? Extraordinary collaborations that lead to incredible breakthroughs.

Our Innovative Spaces

Our places – from our lab buildings to our campuses to our vector cores – are designed to encourage collaboration and innovation. Step inside our walls and learn why there is no better environment in which to develop cures.

With over 50 locations, and more than 1.8 million square feet of research space, our CHOP Care Network offers the latest innovations in care for children — close to home.

With over 50 locations, and more than 1.8 million square feet of research space, our CHOP Care Network offers the latest innovations in care for children — close to home.

Some of our most innovative spaces include:

The Hospital of the Future

Our Second Hospital Is Located Outside the City of Philadelphia

In early 2022, we opened a 250,000-square-foot hospital in King of Prussia, Pa. The Middleman Family Pavilion has 52 private inpatient rooms, a 24/7 Emergency Department, advanced operating suites and an intensive care unit. It provides comprehensive radiology services and care in a number of specialties, including orthopaedics, plastic surgery, ENT and urology.

New Spaces for Innovation

In the coming years, we are planning to open several new buildings that are specially designed to encourage collaboration and innovation, including:

The New Patient Tower is more than 20-stories and more than one million square feet of medical spaces opening in 2028. This state-of-the-art facility has been carefully designed to enhance collaborative care, train future healthcare leaders, and empower world-class teams to do their best work for the patients and families who rely on them.

New Patient Tower rendering

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