KANSAS CITY, MO. — BioNexus KC, in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC), is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Transforming KC: Health Outcomes Research Grants.
The Transforming KC: Health Outcomes Research Grants Program focuses on identifying and advancing health innovations that can meaningfully strengthen community well-being. Through this initiative, Blue KC funds three research projects addressing priority areas in: Health Equity, Food as Medicine, and Mental/Behavioral Health.
“Blue KC is dedicated to advancing health equity throughout the communities we serve by developing initiatives that improve health and well-being,” said Jenny Housley, President of Blue KC. “We are proud to support these grant recipients, whose projects focus on improving health outcomes and helping our community get equitable access to the services and resources they need most.”
This collaborative program reflects the shared commitment of Blue KC and BioNexus KC to advancing health equity and improving quality of life throughout the Kansas City region.
“BioNexus KC is committed to advancing collaborative research that strengthens our regional health ecosystem by improving health and wellness for residents across Kansas and Missouri,” said Randy, Logan, PhD, BioNexus KC. “This year’s awardees bring critical, community-focused approaches to address health inequities and strengthening clinical care across three vital areas.”
2025 Grant Awardees
Mark Hoffman, PhD & Natalie Kane, PhD, Children’s Mercy Kansas City
Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Kane’s project examines the critical role housing plays in health outcomes. This study will link detailed health and housing data from multiple sources to understand how the quality of a person’s home directly impacts their health outcomes. By measuring the true cost of health differences related to poor housing, this project will show how much is spent by hospitals and emergency services responding to these issues. The results will create a foundation for communities to develop focused, long-term investments in affordable, healthy housing to improve overall quality of life and reduce health disparities.
Kathryn Istas, DNP, Saint Luke’s Health System
Dr. Istas will lead a project aimed at reducing inequities in the detection and treatment of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The team will co-design a clinical decision support intervention with maternal-fetal medicine experts and emergency department (ED) champions to improve guidelines, workflows, and treatment protocols across three Kansas City area EDs. Working collaboratively with each site, the research team will map existing workflows, identify facilitators and barriers, develop standardized data reports, and select tailored implementation strategies. The project aims to strengthen clinical decision-making and ultimately improve maternal health outcomes across the region.
David Voran, MD, University of Missouri–Kansas City
Dr. Voran’s project will provide Bluetooth-enabled continuous glucose monitors, blood pressure cuffs, and scales to University Health patients participating in the Faith Influencing Transformation (FIT) diabetes prevention program. By increasing data sharing among patients, community health workers, and clinicians, the study aims to enhance monitoring and timely interventions. Researchers will compare outcomes between participants using connected devices and matched cohorts without them, evaluating the impact of digital tools on community- and clinic-based health programs.
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About BioNexus KC:
The Kansas City region is a global leader at the nexus of human and animal health, and BioNexus KC plays a central role in advancing that leadership. As a regional convener and catalyst for life sciences innovation, BioNexus KC is uniquely positioned to promote scientific advancement and strengthen the impact of the region’s research ecosystem.
BioNexus KC stimulates collaboration, accelerates the translation of emerging technologies from concept to real-world application, and creates opportunities at the intersection of:
- Human and Animal Health
- Urban and Rural Health
- Healthcare and Information Technology
- Academia and Industry
- Kansas and Missouri
Through strategic partnerships, data-driven initiatives, and support for regional innovation, BioNexus KC advances life sciences research that drives scientific progress and innovation.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in Missouri and the only not-for-profit commercial health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City provide health coverage services to more than one million residents in the greater Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and 30 counties in Northwest Missouri. Its mission is to provide affordable access to healthcare and improve its members’ health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit BlueKC.com.