City of Hope Honors Morgan Chu with a Street in His Name

The newly dedicated "Morgan Chu Lane" on City of Hope's Duarte campus is a fitting tribute to a man whose profound influence continues to shape City of Hope's mission. 

 On June 18, Chu joined City of Hope leaders and guests for a dedication ceremony near the newly named street, located in the expanded section of the Duarte campus near the Ted Schwartz Family Hope and Healing Park.  

"This is an honor we bestow rarely," said Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope, in her opening remarks. "It's a very public and visible tribute reserved for someone who has had a transformative effect on City of Hope's future and the future of biomedical discovery."  

A Legacy of Leadership and Philanthropy

Chu, a renowned patent attorney with Irell & Manella LLP, represented City of Hope in its 2008 legal victory against Genentech in a patent infringement suit.  He helped secure payments of $565 million based on a judgment after trial-California's largest damage award ever upheld on appeal.  In addition, he helped achieve a settlement during an arbitration on another set of patents.  Together, these victories underscored the value of innovation born from City of Hope's research. The royalties continue to support groundbreaking research and education at City of Hope today.

Chu's work on the lawsuit opened the door to an enduring relationship with City of Hope, both as an advisor and a philanthropic supporter. After the trial he joined the Board of Directors of the City of Hope National Medical Center and chaired key governance committees there. With his wife Helen, Chu has directed significant philanthropic support toward launching and sustaining efforts in graduate education, research and clinical excellence at City of Hope.  

The Chus have established multiple endowments that strengthen leadership and reward academic achievement among graduate students. Their generosity, along with support from Irell & Manella, helped fund the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences.   

"City of Hope is a special place because of the people here and their dedication to what they do," Chu said.  It's something I noticed when I first started working on the case and have continued to observe over the years as I stayed involved and got to know more people.  Helen and I are proud to support an environment that fosters excellence in leaders and researchers who will change lives around the world."

A Personal Tribute from City of Hope's CEO

Robert Stone, chief executive officer and Helen and Morgan Chu Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, also spoke at the ceremony.  

 Reflecting on their shared history, Stone recalled working with Chu on the Genentech case. "I was part of the team, and it was a bit like going to law school all over again to watch you work, Morgan," Stone said. "The ultimate decision took years of hard work. In the end, you did more than ensure we had justice. You enabled us to build an endowment, securing the long-term financial security of City of Hope."  

Stone highlighted Chu's continued leadership as a board member and chair of the Medical Foundation and Medical Center committees, as well as his unwavering commitment to City of Hope's mission.  

"Morgan, you have supported City of Hope in so many ways over the years - professionally and philanthropically and as a mentor to many, including me," Stone added. "You've done so much to sustain what makes us unique - striving for excellence in the lab and the clinic, putting the patient first and delivering compassionate care."  

A Lasting Symbol of Impact

Today, Morgan Chu Lane serves as a reminder of the enduring impact one individual can have on an institution's mission and future. From legal victories to philanthropic leadership, Chu's legacy is etched not only in the history of City of Hope but now, quite literally, into the landscape of its campus.

"It's a very public and visible tribute reserved for someone who has had a transformative effect on City of Hope's future and the future of biomedical discovery."   

-Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer