WPRO News and the Associated Press
A new institute at Brown University will be devoted to combating childhood health issues.
Brown President Christina Paxson was joined Monday by Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and other dignitaries to announce the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute.
The family of retired Hasbro Chairman and CEO Alan Hassenfeld, a former Brown trustee, provided a $12.5 million founding gift. Brown will raise $12.5 million to match the Hassenfeld family’s donation.
University officials say the institute will focus on child health from pregnancy through young adulthood with an emphasis on combatting childhood obesity, asthma and autism.
The institute will bring together specialists in research, clinical practice and public health.
“I wanted everyone in the same tent, working together on the thing that’s made my family successful… children,” Hassenfeld said Monday at the announcement of the institute at the State House in Providence.
Paxson calls it an “unprecedented opportunity for cross-institutional collaboration” to address children’s health needs.
It will launch at the beginning of 2016.
