The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that Gilead Sciences Inc. has awarded a $1 million grant to support its ongoing renovation and expansion efforts. This funding will specifically be used to create a welcome center in the new wing of The Inn of Tomorrow, a $50 million-plus project that was recently kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony. The Gilead Sciences Welcome Center will serve as the first point of contact for young patients arriving at The Inn from around the world to participate in cutting-edge clinical trials at NIH, ensuring they feel immediately welcomed and supported upon arrival.
The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has expressed its gratitude for Gilead Sciences Inc.’s ongoing partnership, as Gilead has awarded a $1 million grant to support The Inn’s renovation and expansion efforts. This grant will help fund the development of a new welcome center in the upcoming wing of The Inn of Tomorrow, a $50 million project aimed at transforming the space to better serve young patients, their families, and NIH researchers. Jennie Lucca, CEO of The Inn, shared her appreciation for Gilead’s continued support, emphasizing that the company has been a valued partner since The Inn’s inception. She highlighted that the new welcome center will provide enhanced capabilities to ensure a smoother and more welcoming experience for patients as they embark on their journey toward finding cures.
The mission behind The Inn of Tomorrow is grounded in a strong commitment to health equity and increasing access to NIH’s pediatric clinical trials. By removing barriers to these potentially life-saving studies, The Inn is determined to provide a welcoming environment for families from diverse backgrounds. The design of The Inn prioritizes cultural inclusivity, ensuring that all families feel a sense of belonging during their time at The Inn. Additionally, the design process is informed by a health equity lens, recognizing the significant role that the environment plays in the recovery process and the journey toward optimal health.
Carmen Villar, Vice President of ESG and Corporate Citizenship at Gilead Sciences, emphasized the company’s pride in supporting The Children’s Inn’s efforts to provide crucial support services to young patients and their families. She stated that this contribution reflects Gilead’s continued commitment to advancing health equity and making a positive impact on communities.
The construction for the renovation is set to begin in early 2025. The new 15,000-square-foot addition will include the Gilead Sciences Welcome Center, which will serve as the first point of contact for families arriving at The Inn. The project will also feature improved accessibility throughout, ensuring that The Inn’s facilities meet the highest standards of healthcare and hospitality. The completed renovation, expected in 2027, will increase The Inn’s capacity to serve more families, with the goal of expanding its annual capacity by 25%, from 2,400 to 3,000 families.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company with more than 30 years of experience, is committed to creating healthier lives through groundbreaking medicines. Gilead has achieved major medical breakthroughs in areas such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, and cancer. The company operates in more than 35 countries and is headquartered in Foster City, California.
About The Children’s Inn
The Children’s Inn at NIH is a private nonprofit organization that provides a “Place Like Home” for children and families participating in pediatric research at the NIH Clinical Center. The Inn offers a therapeutic, educational, and recreational environment at no cost to families, helping to alleviate the burden of illness. Since opening in 1990, over 16,000 families from around the world have stayed at The Inn while their children participate in clinical trials. As a key partner in the NIH’s mission to find cures for rare and serious diseases, The Inn works toward a future where no family faces the pain of a seriously ill child. With the NIH Clinical Center at the forefront of rare disease research, advances in gene therapy and cellular engineering are bringing hope for new treatments and even cures for conditions that have long lacked effective therapies.
