Jackson Lab Hires Site Director for CT Research Center

The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine has hired a site administrator to oversee operations at its new research facility on the UConn Health Center campus in Farmington.

Yu-Hui Rogers, M.S., a genomics researcher and experienced scientific administrator, will be in charge of all aspects of research support at JAX Genomic Medicine, including finance, human resources, information technology, facilities and scientific services. She is expected to start work at the Farmington site in July and will report directly to Edison Liu, M.D., president and CEO of The Jackson Laboratory, based in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Rogers comes to JAX Genomic Medicine from the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Md., where she most recently was vice president of core technology development and services. Before her promotion in 2008 to this executive leadership role, she served since 2002 as scientific director of the Joint Technology Center and director of new technology development at the Venter Institute.  

Rogers’ own research expertise includes having helped develop a new process for large-scale DNA sequencing that enabled the first complete sequencing of the human genome. She also established an automated resequencing pipeline used to identify victims of the 2001 World Trade Center attack via forensic analysis of mitochondrial DNA.

Rogers said she is excited to be moving into translational research, which brings together scientists and clinicians to study human genomics and apply new discoveries to the personalized care of patients with cancer, diabetes and other genetic diseases and conditions.

“There is a rapidly growing awareness around the world of the importance of genomic medicine, for individuals in the health care delivery system and for the health of entire populations, as well as an appreciation of the impact of the bioeconomy on society,” Rogers said. “I really feel the next 10 years will offer the most critical and productive opportunity to translate advances and discoveries in basic genomic research into actual improvements in human health.”

Charles E. Hewett, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief operating officer at The Jackson Laboratory, said Rogers is ideally suited to fill the high-profile role of site administrator for the new genomics facility.

“Our site director will play a key role in establishing systems that support world-class biomedical discovery,” he said. “Yu-Hui understands the science and she is an experienced administrator and a great communicator. She is a perfect fit for this position.” 

Rogers will begin working in temporary leased space on the campus of the University of Connecticut Health Center. Other recent hires include the center’s director of genome sciences, another researcher and two administrative professionals. Construction of a new 173,000-square-foot permanent facility for JAX Genomic Medicine is scheduled to begin in January 2013 on a 17-acre parcel at the UConn Health Center Campus. By 2020 the facility is projected to house 300 biomedical researchers, technicians and support staff in addition to administrative and other personnel.

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution based in Bar Harbor, Maine, with a facility in Sacramento, Calif., as well as the new genomic medicine institute in Farmington, Conn. It employs a total staff of about 1,400. Its mission is to discover the genetic basis for preventing, treating and curing human disease and to enable research and education for the global biomedical community.

Submitted by the Jackson Laboratory.