Dr. Jane Buckner learned from a legend. Now she’s preparing to replace him.

Buckner will become president of Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason at the end of this year, replacing Dr. Gerald Nepom.

Nepom, who spent 30 years at the Seattle institute, grew the $62 million organization’s reputation into one of international prominence for leading cutting-edge research into autoimmune diseases. Seattle-based Benaroya, founded in 1956, now employs almost 300 people.

Nepom will remain director of the Immune Tolerance Network, the largest funded clinical trial network in the nation, which moved to the institute last year. Buckner has been at Benaroya 16 years, most recently as assistant director. She has been recognized for her research on genetic causes of autoimmune diseases.

Learn more about Dr. Buckner in the full article by Puget Sound Business Journal.