Director, Center for Perinatal Research

Abigail Wexner Research Institute

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Columbus, Ohio

The Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Nationwide Children’s) seeks applications and nominations for the position of director, Center for Perinatal Research (center). The director will join a forward-thinking organization focused on discovery and innovative initiatives aimed at developing lifesaving treatments and cures for the children of Ohio and beyond. The director of the center will play a crucial role in furthering Nationwide Children’s commitment to quickly translating basic science discoveries into improved care and treatment of its patients.

The AWRI at Nationwide Children’s is ranked among the top 10 freestanding children’s hospitals based on NIH funding, increasing by 50% over the past 5 years. On a continuing trajectory of rapid growth, the institute’s research expenditures – both internal and external – have grown from roughly $100 million to over $200 million over the last decade. The 15 centers at AWRI are structured to support multidisciplinary team science and discovery through the provision of dedicated laboratory and office space and shared resources. Each center is home to approximately five to 15 faculty members who work collaboratively, along with talented staff, graduate students, residents, post­doctoral fellows, and other students.

The Center for Perinatal Research has a unique, integrative approach to prematurity research that extends before and after birth. In close collaboration with the Division of Neonatology and the Maternal-Fetal Medicine program at OSU, the mission of the faculty within the center is to conduct innovative basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological research focused on prevention of preterm birth and improvement of prematurity-related outcomes. The work is supported by four PhD faculty and 11 MD or MD/PhD faculty who devote at least 80% of their time to research. With 29,000 square feet of state-of-the-art wet and dry lab space, the center offers ample space for staff and trainees. In 2020, center faculty received over $6 million dollars in external grant awards. The quality of work performed in the center has enabled strong growth, even as research funding remains highly competitive and challenging. There are notable research programs focused on the neurodevelopment of high-risk infants and rehabilitation of their long-term disabilities, neonatal lung development and injury, pulmonary hypertension, dysfunctional feeding, neonatal infectious diseases, prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis, and neonatal comparative effectiveness research.

Reporting to both the Chief Scientific Officer of the AWRI and the chair of the Department of Pediatrics within the College of Medicine at The Ohio State University, the director also works in close partnership with the President of the AWRI, the division chief of Neonatology, and the director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. AWRI offers the next director remarkable agility and nimbleness in developing an innovative strategic plan, and the resources to execute that vision. Engaged with leading the day-to-day operations of the center, the director will promote Nationwide Children’s state-of-the-art research and pediatric care. The director will provide strategic vision and support to foster breakthrough scientific discoveries and their translation. Building upon existing and developing new collaborative relationships both internally and externally, the director will serve as AWRI’s liaison on all matters related to perinatal research regionally, nationally, and internationally. While continuing to conduct a relevant personal research portfolio, the director will apply highly collaborative and supportive leadership towards the growth of senior faculty and ensure successful mentorship of the center’s junior faculty and trainees.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital has engaged Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in the search. All nominations and applications should be sent in confidence to: Patricia Hastie, Randi Herrick, and Berkley Braden through https://www.imsearch.com/search-detail/S7-446

Nationwide Children’s Hospital is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. Candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.