Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia named Brown University biology professor Eric Morrow as the founding director of the Lurie Autism Institute.
Morrow will assume the position at the institute on September 1 and will also join the Perelman School of Medicine’s Pediatrics and Genetics departments, according to an April 29 press release. His appointment comes as Penn Med and CHOP seek to establish the newly launched institute as “a nationally and globally recognized hub” for autism research, clinical care, and collaboration.
“Dr. Morrow is an extraordinary scientist who is committed to translating research into life-changing breakthroughs in care,” Madeline Bell, chief executive officer of CHOP, stated in the press release. “Under his leadership, the Lurie Autism Institute will focus on finding innovative ways to deliver better care and outcomes for patients throughout their lives.”
The Lurie Autism Institute describes itself as “working to unlock the biology of autism, pioneering new therapies, and supporting individuals and families every step of the way.”
“I am deeply honored to join Penn Medicine and CHOP in building the Lurie Autism Institute,” Morrow wrote in the release. “I look forward to working alongside the faculty, clinicians, trainees, families, and community members who make this partnership so strong.”
Medical School dean Jonathan Epstein emphasized the importance of Morrow’s leadership for “this once-in-a-generation initiative.”
“His extraordinary depth of scientific and clinical expertise in autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders, combined with his collaborative approach and longstanding ties to both Penn and CHOP, position him to drive the kind of cross-disciplinary discovery that this moment demands,” Epstein wrote.
Morrow was selected after a “highly competitive national search” for a “visionary leader” with the expertise to drive the mission of the institute forward. He was chosen for his extensive background on autism spectrum disorder and previous collaboration with Penn Medicine and CHOP, including serving on their Autism External Scientific Advisory Boards in 2023.
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His previous research focuses on translational neurogenetics, including the “genetic underpinnings of neurodevelopmental disorders” such as autism.
Last June, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie donated $50 million to Penn Med and CHOP to launch the institute, which will be located on CHOP’s Philadelphia campus close to Penn Med “to facilitate close collaboration and discovery,” according to the recent press release.
