Nationwide Children's Hospital Marks 10 Years of Genomic Medicine Innovation

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Nationwide Children's Hospital is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, marking a decade of genomic medicine innovation and clinical impact that continues to advance pediatric research and care.

Founded in 2016, the Institute for Genomic Medicine was launched with the recruitment of founding Executive Director Richard Wilson, PhD, and Co-Executive Director Elaine Mardis, PhD, both internationally recognized leaders in genome science.

"Ten years ago, we set out to build one of the nation's first comprehensive pediatric precision medicine institutes, a program that would harness genomic science to improve the lives of children and families," said Dr. Wilson. "Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our researchers, clinicians and staff, and the courage of the many patients and families who have taken part in our research and clinical progress."

The Institute integrates clinical genomic testing, research, technology development and computational analytics to accelerate discovery and improve care for children with cancer, genetic disorders and complex diseases. By collaborating across Nationwide Children's and with research partners around the world, the Institute advances understanding of childhood disease and develops more personalized approaches to treatment.

An important milestone in the Institute's history is the expansion of rapid genome sequencing. Its implementation has helped provide faster diagnoses for critically ill children and informed care for hundreds of patients. To date, more than 1,200 patients have received rapid genome sequencing. Typically delivering results within three days, this test has provided answers for about one-third of children who previously had no diagnosis, helping care teams make more informed treatment decisions and ending the "diagnostic odyssey" for many families.

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