Shriners Children’s has announced plans to invest more than $153 million in a cutting-edge pediatric research institute at Atlanta’s Science Square, in a landmark move expected to transform children’s healthcare and accelerate medical innovation.
The state-of-the-art facility, strategically located adjacent to the Georgia Institute of Technology, will serve as a centerpiece of the Science Square mixed-use development. Construction is set to be completed within the next 12 to 18 months, creating an estimated 470 new jobs in the region.
The nonprofit healthcare system, renowned for providing specialized treatment to children regardless of a family’s ability to pay, will focus the new institute on high-impact research areas including gene and cell therapy, robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, medical devices, and health data analytics.
“This institute will serve as a hub for groundbreaking pediatric research that will benefit children worldwide,” said Shriners Children’s leadership in a statement.
The facility builds on an existing collaboration between Shriners Children’s, Georgia Tech, and Emory University, which has yielded dozens of innovations since 2019—from wearable cleft care devices to robotic systems designed to aid children with cerebral palsy.
A unique feature of the institute will be its integration of Georgia Tech engineers and Shriners researchers in shared laboratory spaces, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. Leaders from Georgia Tech’s pediatric technology initiative believe this setup will accelerate the pace of medical discoveries and dismantle traditional academic silos.
Although the institute operates as a nonprofit and is generally exempt from many taxes, discussions are underway regarding additional incentives, including sales tax exemptions on medical and research equipment. Negotiations are ongoing with Georgia’s economic development officials.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens both praised the initiative, calling it a milestone for Georgia’s rapidly growing life sciences sector.
“This is more than just a research facility,” said Governor Kemp. “It’s a statement that Georgia is leading the future of pediatric biomedical innovation.”
For over 100 years, Shriners Children’s has provided world-class pediatric care across North America. The new Atlanta-based institute signals its deepening commitment to research, innovation, and global impact in children’s health.