Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine
Optimizing Patient Care Through Translational Genomics
A New Standard of Care
Take a look inside the Institute for Genomic Medicine
Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine
It’s an exciting time for the field of genomics, and Nationwide Children’s is leading the charge.
The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine is a nationally recognized provider of expertise in multiple aspects of genomics data generation and analysis. It creates a unique environment where state-of-the-art testing by its clinical laboratory, advanced computational data analytics and translational research efforts come together to transform patient care and make genomic testing results accessible and meaningful for patients and families.
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
- 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.
- Advance genomics-drive precision medicine: Increase patient access to genetic/genomic testing through clinical assays, new testing modalities and clinical trials.
- 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.
News and Research
- New Initiative Aims to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Solid Tumors Through Molecular Analysis
- Featured Researcher — Tracy Bedrosian, PhD
- Researchers Classify High-Risk Variants in Lamin A/C Cardiac Disease Using Machine Learning
- Study Supports Virotherapy as a Potential Treatment for Brain Tumors
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital Joins New NORD Rare Disease Centers of Excellence Network, Committed to Improving Access and Care for Rare Disease Patients
- Additional Ventures: Investing in Congenital Heart Disease Research to Advance Care
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital Announces Strategic Plan: $3.3 Billion Commitment to Address Health of the Whole Child in Unique Care Model
- Targeting DIPG: The Most Puzzling of Pediatric Brain Tumors
- Novel Genetic Driver Discovered for Pediatric Meningiomas Using Molecular Profiling
- Cerebral Organoids Provide Insight into Human Brain Development and Neurological Disease
- Intractable Epilepsy Linked to Brain-Specific Genetic Mutation
- Nationwide Foundation Pediatric Innovation Continues to Benefit the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine
- Elaine R. Mardis, PhD, Elected to the Prestigious National Academy of Medicine
- What Can We Learn From the Co-occurrence of a Genetic Disorder and Cancer?
- New Model Provides Novel View of Congenital Heart Disease
- Childhood Cancer Research Team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Awarded $10.2 Million Moonshot Grant
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital Announces the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine
- Nationwide Foundation Pediatric Innovation Fund Makes Sixth Annual Gift for Significant Impact at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Nationwide Foundation Pediatric Innovation Fund Making Significant Patient Impact at the Institute For Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital
- Elaine R. Mardis, PhD, Named American Association for Cancer Research President-Elect 2018-2019
- Mardis Receives Prestigious Luminary Award
- Nationwide Foundation Pediatric Innovation Fund Accelerating Lifesaving Progress at Newly-Formed Institute For Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Patient Stories
Resources for Families
Join the IGM Team
The team at the Institute for Genomic Medicine is growing. Click the link below to view current job listings and to learn more about careers at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Acknowledgements
The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine and the endowed chairs held by its Executive Director Richard K. Wilson, PhD, and Co-Executive Director Elaine Mardis, PhD, are named to honor the transformational support of Steve and Cindy Rasmussen and their commitment to advancing the mission of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
During his tenure as CEO of Nationwide, Steve and his leadership team envisioned and established the Nationwide Foundation Pediatric Innovation Fund at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The Innovation Fund provided the initial startup funding to create the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children’s and accelerated the recruitment of its pre-eminent doctors and researchers, including Drs. Mardis and Wilson.
Since 2014, Nationwide Foundation has contributed $80 million to the fund. With Nationwide Foundation’s initial $50 million gift to the hospital in 2006, the foundation’s cumulative support of Nationwide Children's has now reached $130 million.
Thanks to this support, Nationwide Children’s is uniquely positioned to assume a leadership role in the new era of genomic-based medicine. The Institute will continue to offer pioneering innovations — and hope — to many more patients and their families for years to come.
Join the IGM Team
The team at the Institute for Genomic Medicine is growing. Click the links below to view current job listings and to learn more about careers at Nationwide Children's Hospital.