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$3.5 Million Gift Establishes the Chênevert Family Advanced Cellular and Gene Therapy Unit in Connecticut Children’s Tower Expansion
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The Chênevert Family gift will keep children close to home for lifesaving bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants and gene therapy.
Hartford, CT—Connecticut Children’s has received a $3.5 million gift from long-time donors Debra and Louis Chênevert and their daughters, Sophie Chênevert-Schilke and Lisa Chênevert-Krause, to support cutting-edge cellular and gene therapy treatment and research in the hospital’s new eight-story clinical tower, set to open in December 2025. In recognition of this transformative gift, the new cellular and gene therapy unit in the tower will be named the Chênevert Family Advanced Cellular and Gene Therapy Unit.
“Bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants and gene therapy are critical, lifesaving procedures for pediatric cancers and other diseases,” said Dr. Jim Shmerling, President and CEO, Connecticut Children’s. “Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Chênevert Family, our patients will no longer need to go out of state for these cutting-edge treatments. We are immensely grateful for their support.”
The new Chênevert Family Advanced Cellular and Gene Therapy Unit will be one of the centerpieces of the new tower. In addition to cellular and gene therapy, it will be a hub for advanced research and the latest clinical trials. “We are so proud of the new center coming together in 2025 and excited that our gift enables improving outcomes for the next generation of children in Connecticut and beyond,” said Louis Chênevert. “Improving the life of so many families facing such challenges is where our Foundation aims to always make a difference through research and better care.”
We are so proud of the new center coming together in 2025 and excited that our gift enables improving outcomes for the next generation of children in Connecticut and beyond.
Louis Chênevert, long-time donor
Bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants and gene therapy require long stays in the hospital, often for many months. For families already struggling under the weight of a child’s illness, going out of state for treatment imposes financial, employment and personal hardships.
“Keeping kids at Connecticut Children’s for these treatments also means keeping kids in a familiar environment where they’ll be cared for by the doctors and nurses who know them best,” said Michael Isakoff, MD, Division Head, Connecticut Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders. “The Chênevert Family Advanced Cellular and Gene Therapy Unit will help us keep families close to home, while also accelerating our pursuit of gene therapies that have the potential to redefine pediatric care in ways we once only dreamed possible.”
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About Connecticut Children’s
Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut 100% dedicated to kids. That means high-quality care across more than 30 pediatric specialties in 40+ locations throughout Connecticut, Eastern New York and Western Massachusetts. One team on a mission to improve access to healthcare from before birth and into adulthood. One team pushing the limits with breakthrough research and community partnerships so we can help you focus on what matters most: your family’s wellness journey. When you choose Connecticut Children’s, you can expect care Beyond Imagination.
Connecticut Children’s is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to improve access to health care for all children.
