Dr. Jon Wagner Named Director of Research, Ward Family Heart Center
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jon Wagner, DO, FAAP, has been appointed as the new Director of Research for the Ward Family Heart Center.
In this new role, Dr. Wagner will lead the development of a world-class translational cardiovascular research program, building on the strengths of the Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI) while exploring new opportunities for innovation and collaboration. His responsibilities include:
- Oversight and execution of all Heart Center research operations
- Mentorship and training of research staff and future cardiovascular scientists
- Building strategic partnerships with regional institutions (e.g., KUMC, Stowers Institute)
- Securing funding to ensure long-term program sustainability
“I first came to Children’s Mercy as a third-year medical student rotating on the cardiology ‘Blue Team’ service. From that day forward, I was hooked and knew I wanted to become a Pediatric Cardiologist,” says Dr. Wagner, “Almost 20 years later, I am honored and humbled to cultivate another great program in the Heart Center that will improve the lives of our cardiac patients.”
Dr. Wagner’s vision includes establishing three distinct research tracks:
- Exploratory and Pre-Clinical Research
- Clinical and Diagnostic Trials
- Cardiovascular Outcomes Research
About Dr. Wagner
Dr. Wagner is the Matson Family Endowed Professor in Cardiac Research and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. He joined Children’s Mercy in 2013 and has served as Division Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology for more than five years. His research has significantly advanced the understanding of pharmacogenomics and precision medicine in pediatric cardiology.
He has led and contributed to numerous NIH-funded studies and national trials, including FUEL and FALD, and has received over $4.5 million in external funding. Dr. Wagner is also the principal investigator of the IMPROVE-FALD program and director of the Cardiology Pharmacogenomics Repository (CPR).