Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine

The Institute at a Glance

The establishment of the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine in 2016 marked one of the nation’s first and most robust ventures into pediatric precision genomic medicine. With the recruitment of Executive Director Richard Wilson, PhD, and Co-Executive Director Elaine Mardis, PhD, from Washington University-St. Louis and the expertise of world-renowned Nationwide Children's faculty, including Peter White, PhD, Nationwide Children’s became uniquely positioned to assume a leadership role in the new era of genomic-based medicine, which focuses on genomics as the root cause of many childhood diseases and genome-based testing as central to pediatric diagnosis and treatment. 

Combining a robust clinical laboratory with genome scientists and clinical geneticists to optimize patient care and, the Institute remains one of the few programs of its kind in the United States.

Strategic Plan

In June 2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital announced the most ambitious strategic plan of its 129-year history: Leading the Journey to Best Outcomes for Children Everywhere, a five-year, $3.3 billion commitment to capitalizing on the hospital’s strengths to revolutionize the next frontier of pediatric health. 

Genomics research and personalized medicine is a cornerstone of the integration of clinical care and research and an area where Nationwide Children’s is truly leading the charge. As such, hospital leadership identified genomic medicine at Nationwide Children’s as one of the three key pillars of the new strategic plan. 

The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine’s own strategic plan supports the critical role genomic research plays in the overall strategic plan for the hospital. It describes how the Institute’s core capabilities will becoming even more deeply integrated throughout Nationwide Children’s over the next five years. 

Three Paradigm Shifting Areas

1. Develop novel genomics-enabled research: Develop new translational programs focused on key service lines and launch Healthy Kids project and biobanking initiative for investigators at Nationwide Children's to access.
2. Advance genomics-drive precision medicine: Increase patient access to genetic/genomic testing through clinical assays, new testing modalities and clinical trials.
3. Advance computational genomics and informatics: Improve treatments and outcomes by maximizing data-driven discovery through data science, artificial intelligence and leadership of international data sharing activities.

Through collaboration among clinicians, physician-scientists and basic science investigators and use of state-of-the-art technology, the Institute quickly translates novel research results into advanced diagnostics.

Expanding the availability of clinical genetic and genomic testing enables providers to diagnose conditions earlier, to better predict patient outcomes and to personalize treatment for each individual patient. 

Additionally, further developing novel translational programs to study how DNA underlies various diagnoses and helps define treatments, conducting population-scale studies that enhance our ability to predict disease susceptibility, and analyzing clinical data to develop new hypotheses will drive discoveries and define how genomics can advance precision medicine.

Fueled by the innovation, expertise and passion of the expert team and world-renowned faculty in the Institute, genomics will be a component of precision medicine for increasing numbers of children across increasing numbers of service lines as they are being diagnosed and treated.

Click here to learn more about the Institute’s strategic plan and the three paradigm-shifting areas that define it.