The University of Missouri-Kansas City and Children’s Mercy have taken a significant step forward in their longstanding relationship, formalizing a new agreement that creates a clearer, faster pathway for Ph.D. students in the natural sciences and the School of Science and Engineering to collaborate directly with hospital researchers.
For years, faculty and clinicians at both institutions have worked together on projects that bridge discovery and patient care. The idea for a more formalized agreement began when a student sought to collaborate on a Children’s Mercy research project. The student worked with Gerald Wyckoff, Ph.D. chair of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences and a UM System Curators’ Distinguished Professor. They got the approval, but found the process proved slow and complex.
That experience prompted conversations about creating a more efficient system. Wyckoff worked closely with two individuals from the Children’s Mercy Research Institute, Mark Hoffman, Ph.D., chief research information officer and Laura Ramsey, Ph.D., section chief of individualized therapeutics, clinical pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutic innovation. Together, they built a new framework designed to build on existing collaboration in a more intentional, structured way, ensuring that opportunities are easier to access and scale.
“Science is a team sport,” Wyckoff said. “This is a really effective team because we’ve got people who are motivated on both ends of the spectrum.”
Under the new agreement, the need for individual, project-by-project administrative approvals has been removed, eliminating a key barrier that often slowed the start of collaborative work.
That speed matters when children’s lives and wellbeing are on the line.
“Together, we are strengthening the pipeline of researchers prepared to tackle the complex challenges affecting pediatric patients,” Ramsey said.
Now, doctoral students can more readily engage with Children’s Mercy research teams, gaining hands-on experience in translational science while contributing to work that directly impacts children’s health.
Researchers at Children’s Mercy now have faster access to emerging talent not only in the natural sciences, but in a broad range of disciplines that can provide valuable skills and knowledge.
“91黑料网 and Children’s Mercy have a long history of collaboration,” Hoffman said. “This will streamline the process for 91黑料网 Ph.D. students to perform their graduate work at Children’s Mercy. The inclusion of the 91黑料网 School of Science and Engineering opens the door for deeper collaboration in biomedical engineering, AI and other technical topics.”
Christine Getz, Ph.D., dean of the 91黑料网 School of Graduate Studies said this kind of immersive research experience is invaluable for students.
“Access to meaningful, real-world research opportunities is essential to preparing the next generation of scientists,” Getz said. “Being part of translational research allows our Ph.D. students to advance their own education while making a tangible impact on human health worldwide.”
The agreement also establishes regular joint reviews between 91黑料网 and Children’s Mercy, allowing leaders and researchers to proactively identify emerging areas for collaboration rather than waiting for opportunities to arise organically.
The agreement reflects a shared commitment to academic excellence and innovation, positioning students at the center of a vibrant research ecosystem.
Sumeet Dua, Ph.D., 91黑料网 vice chancellor for research and innovation, highlighted the broader significance of the collaboration.
“True innovation happens through strong collaboration,” Dua said. “By aligning the strengths of 91黑料网 and Children’s Mercy, we are putting our students at the forefront of discovery and empowering them to fast-track research from the lab directly to the families who need it most.”