Anonymous $25 Million Gift will Expand Neurological and Interventional Radiology Resources at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — While wishing to remain anonymous, a generous donor has provided $25 million to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to support the expansion of the CHLA Neurological Institute and the hospital's capacity in Interventional Radiology.

"This truly transformative gift comes at a time when demand is growing quickly—particularly among underserved children in Southern California—both for pediatric neurological care as well as interventional radiology's broad range of minimally invasive procedures," says CHLA President and CEO Paul S. Viviano. "I am beyond grateful for the generosity of this gift, one of the largest single donations in the hospital's history, and one that invests in healthier futures for the infants, children and youth we serve."

A portion of the gift will help fund the creation of a new multidisciplinary Neurological Institute Outpatient Center. When open, it will be one of only a handful of clinical hubs nationwide where all team members vital to treating neurological conditions—neurologists, neurosurgeons, developmental pediatricians, geneticists, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers and more—will work in one centralized location. The project includes the remodeling and creation of:

  • 35 patient exam rooms
  • Five electroencephalogram (EEG) rooms
  • Four consultation rooms
  • Two nurses' stations
  • A dedicated playroom for neurology patients

By 2022, CHLA's Neurological Institute is projected to care for more than 31,000 patients a year. The new outpatient center aims to guide families as seamlessly as possible from diagnosis to treatment, from surgery to rehabilitation, for neurological conditions including brain tumors, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, craniofacial issues, strokes and more.

The other component of the gift will enhance CHLA's Interventional Radiology, or IR, capacity through purchase of new technology and an overhaul of existing diagnostic and treatment space. IR, the fastest growing modality within CHLA's Department of Radiology and Imaging, uses advanced imaging equipment to diagnose and treat a range of conditions—including tumors and cardiovascular anomalies—with less invasive yet more precise procedures. IR patient volume at CHLA has increased more than 30% annually, with the hospital providing more than 3,800 procedures over the past year.

"Expanding IR is critical to allowing CHLA to meet growing patient volume while also facilitating research to improve patient care for future generations," says Alexandra Carter, CHLA Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. "This considerable contribution will significantly advance CHLA's vision of providing each patient and family with care that is timely, personalized, multidisciplinary and family-centered."

About Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Founded in 1901, Children's Hospital Los Angeles is ranked the top children’s hospital in California and fifth in the nation for clinical excellence with its selection to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll of children’s hospitals. Clinical care is led by physicians who are faculty members of the Keck School of Medicine of USC through an affiliation dating from 1932. The hospital also leads the largest pediatric residency training program at a freestanding children’s hospital of its kind in the western United States. The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles encompasses basic, translational and clinical research conducted at CHLA. To learn more, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, visit our blog for families (CHLA.org/blog) and our research blog (ResearCHLABlog.org).

For Media Inquiries Only: 
Lorenzo Benet, CHLA Public Relations Director 
Mail: lbenet@chla.usc.edu 
Office: (323) 361-4823