The founding family of Philadelphia-based Comcast donated $25 million to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The donation will be used toward improving pediatric genetic research and development, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Roberts Collaborative for Genetics and Individualized Medicine will focus on developing research in a number of fields, including inherited disorders, mitochondrial disease, cancer and autism. Aileen Roberts, wife of Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, said her position on the hospital's board of directors motivated the family's donation, according to the article.
The collaboration will allow the hospital to use the latest technology to search a patient's DNA code for variations that may affect an individual's health or response to therapy procedures. The affiliation will also fund the creation of a genomic data repository, a family support and counseling center and a program to train medical students and residents in personalized pediatric care.