About the Research Institute | CHOP Research Institute

About the Research Institute

Advancing children’s health as a worldwide leader in pediatric research.

A Distinguished History of Bold Breakthroughs

It’s hard to imagine that in 1922, the Hospital established its first research laboratory in a single room in its basement. Today, the Research Institute is home to one of the largest pediatric research programs in the country solving the most challenging problems in children’s health. We propel scientific discovery by connecting unparalleled resources from the main hospital, to the Raymond G. Perelman campus, to the Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, to Penn’s facilities, to community-based research partnerships. Modern science is truly a team sport. Our Research Administration and Operations staff create a high-performing environment that supports our 525 investigators and a research staff in the thousands. We cultivate a diverse workforce and inclusive environment, where all of our employees are valued, fully engaged, compassionate, and able to reach their fullest career potential.

See our Annual Report to learn more about our remarkable achievements, and view our key metrics.

Leadership Team

Guided By Science
The Research Institute's Senior Leadership Team embraces our ICARE values — integrity, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence — and empowers the research community to cultivate a sustainable strategic plan that leads the way to understanding causes, finding cures, and developing novel therapeutics and devices for rare and complex pediatric diseases.

Susan L. Furth

Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer

Photo of Beverly L. Davidson, PhD

Chief Scientific Strategy Officer

Richard Aplenc

Assistant Vice President and Chief Clinical Research Officer

Michelle A. Lewis

Senior Vice President for Research Administration and Operations

Matthew Hodgson

Vice President, Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs

Zev Sunleaf

Vice President, Technology Transfer, Commercialization, and Research Contracts

Jeff Pennington

Associate Vice President and Chief Research Informatics Officer

Annual Report
Our work has a tangible impact: We find novel ways to help children with rare and complex diseases and their families thrive.

– Susan L. Furth, MD, PhD