Nancy J. Kelley, founding executive director of the New York Genome Center (NYGC), an independent, non-profit organization that leverages the collaborative resources of leading academic medical centers, research universities and commercial organizations, will depart from her position with NYGC. She will remain an advisor and a member of the board of directors.

Kelley was a key driving force behind the creation and growth of NYGC. From its establishment in 2010 by its 11 Institutional Founding Members, she led the Center from a start up through its current stage of becoming a fully operational, world class genomics research center and provider of cutting edge sequencing and bioinformatics services. Many of NYGC’s foundational elements, such as its Pilot Laboratory at Rockefeller University, the NYGC Innovation Center and key technology partnerships, were established under her leadership. In addition, Kelley oversaw the selection and build out of NYGC’s permanent facility in New York City, which is set to open this summer.

“Nancy J. Kelley was instrumental in nurturing NYGC from an idea to a reality, to the inestimable benefit of scientific research and New York City,” said Russ Carson and Ivan Seidenberg, co-chairs of the NYGC board of directors. “We are extremely appreciative of her vision, persistence and accomplishments, and we look forward to continuing to work with her as an advisor and a member of NYGC’s board of directors."

Moving forward, Dr. Robert B. Darnell, president and scientific director, NYGC, will build on the foundation established by Kelley to deliver NYGC’s vision of collaborative genomics research to improve treatments for people with serious diseases in addition to also providing high quality genomics sequencing and bioinformatics services to researchers in New York City and beyond.

“Working with the New York Genome Center and all of its supporters and partners has been an extraordinary experience,” said Kelley. “This is an exciting time in science and medicine. The Center is now well positioned to become a world-class collaborative center for translational genomic research under the strong leadership of Dr. Darnell. It is an appropriate time for me to pursue other endeavors and to continue to contribute to NYGC’s growth as an advisor and member of its board of directors. I will always value my experience there.”