Children's Mercy Kansas City Transitions Leadership of Children's Mercy Research Institute

Children’s Mercy Kansas City announces new leadership of the Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI). Rob Lane, MD, MS, neonatologist and researcher in the field of perinatal programming and Executive Vice President and Physician-in-Chief, will assume the additional role of interim Chief Scientific Officer. Steve Leeder, PharmD, PhD, who currently serves as Deputy Director of the CMRI, will become interim Executive Director of the CMRI. Both roles are effective immediately.

“Dr. Lane and Dr. Leeder are nationally recognized experts in pediatric research,” said Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Mercy. “We look forward to their proven leadership as we continue to push our organization forward with treating the whole child with research-driven personalized care as our top priority. Children’s Mercy’s commitment to research remains at the center of our mission and vision, and our support of the CMRI and the life sciences community is unwavering.”

Tom Curran, PhD, FRS, Senior Vice President, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, CMRI, is leaving Children’s Mercy. Dr. Curran came to Children’s Mercy in 2016 to lead the implementation of the organization’s vision to become a premier pediatric research facility, build a strong leadership team, and bring world-class science and technology to the service of children. During his tenure, Children’s Mercy has accelerated precision diagnoses and treatments for complex childhood diseases and moved kids to the forefront of research discoveries.

One of the groundbreaking flagship projects within the CMRI is the Genomic Answers for Kids project in which advanced technology has enabled sequencing of the human genome, leading to the diagnosis of over 1,600 rare diseases in children. In time, those answers will lead to treatment and cures.

“The CMRI, which opened in 2021, demonstrates a true fusion of research and innovation with Children’s Mercy’s clinical and academic enterprise, translating discoveries into new medicines, treatments and diagnostics,” said Kempinski.

Children’s Mercy will engage nationally and regionally recognized research leaders to assess our current model and structure and make recommendations for the future.