The Story Behind Our Name
In 2019, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s was renamed in honor of Abigail Wexner, whose ongoing and passionate advocacy ushered in a period of unprecedented transformation at the hospital. During her more than 25 years on the board of directors, Nationwide Children’s grew to become one of the leading pediatric health care systems in the United States, and the Abigail Wexner Research Institute one of the most preeminent centers of its kind.
Mrs. Wexner began serving on Nationwide Children’s board in 1993 and acted as board chair for seven years from 2005 to 2012. During her tenure as chair, Mrs. Wexner led the hospital through the largest expansion in its history, including completion of a 12-story hospital building and a third research building, with more than $1.2 billion in regional economic impact.
Mrs. Wexner was at the forefront of strengthening the central Ohio community’s response to family violence through the successful merging of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy with the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence to create The Center for Family Safety and Healing on the campus of Nationwide Children’s. Since its inception in 2011, Mrs. Wexner has served as board chair.
The Wexner family has provided crucial philanthropic support for Nationwide Children’s. With their $20 million gift to The Center for Family Safety and Healing, in tandem with funds raised through the New Albany Classic, the family’s cumulative personal giving and philanthropic impact exceeds more than $80 million. This transformational funding has enabled Nationwide Children’s to expand clinical and research programs as one of America’s premier pediatric leaders.
Read the full press release here.
The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital has a wealth of resources available to our researchers to ensure they have the tools they need to continue our mission of enhancing the health of children by engaging in high quality, cutting-edge research according to the highest scientific and ethical standards. We invite you to learn more about our resources below.
On-site basic, clinical and general core services offer the latest resources for cutting-edge research support at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Advances in biomedical science place extreme demands on investigators for computational technology. We are working to meet those demands with a comprehensive array of computational services including biostatistics, epidemiologic analysis, database design and technical support.
The Finance and Sponsored Project Department supports grant and contract funding from the start of a search for funding through the closeout of a project. We know it takes teamwork for a successful project and are prepared to assure our researcher's time is spent focused on the science of research and not administrative details.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews and provides oversight of all research involving human subjects at Nationwide Children's Hospital and its affiliated institutions. The IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction.
RISI works with domain experts, clinical experts, and research talents to create valuable solutions for the organization and our patients.
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The Abigail Wexner Research Institute is dedicated to enhancing the health of children by engaging in high-quality, cutting-edge research. This includes developing promising new technologies to advance the practice of pediatrics and general health care. Visit The Office of Technology Commercialization page to learn more about how this group facilitates the transfer of innovations to external partners for the benefit of our community and the general public.
Browse the latest innovations and technologies available from the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Stay up to date with the latest events from the Office of Technology Commercialization.
Find answers to the most common questions around technology commercialization.
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Research education and training are vital to the mission of Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. As a top-ten free-standing pediatric research center and an academic affiliate of The Ohio State University, The Research Institute has an outstanding faculty, dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of scientists in pediatric research.
Nationwide Children's offers Postdoctoral opportunities for those individuals who recently received their degree in many of The Research Institute's research laboratories.
First-year graduate students are able to do short rotations though The Research Institute laboratories prior to committing to their thesis laboratories.
The Research Institute’s Trainee Association (RITA) was created in 2013 to help better train and prepare trainees for their “next steps.”
The Research Institute offers high school and undergraduate students summer research experience for credit or pay.
Medical students may apply for research opportunities, with eight-week programs during their third year and four-week elective programs during their fourth year of medical school available.
Learn more about the training events offered at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. This includes the Scientific Writing Program and Responsible Conduct of Research Seminars.
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