Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Secures Major Federal and Philanthropic Funding to Expand Biomedical Research

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, a prominent nonprofit biomedical research institution based in Oklahoma City, has continued to secure significant funding from a mixture of federal grants, state and local foundations, and private donors to drive scientific discovery across a broad range of disease areas. Founded in 1946, the foundation’s mission is to improve human health through cutting-edge research into conditions such as autoimmune disorders, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and more. Over the past several years, the organization’s funding portfolio has reflected a blend of competitive government awards and philanthropic support that fuels its laboratories and clinical research programs.

In federal funding, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has been the recipient of multiple major grants from the National Institutes of Health. These include a multi-year project grant, P20GM156711, awarded through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences as part of the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence Phase 1 program, providing approximately $2.46 million for collaborative research infrastructure and training initiatives that strengthen biomedical research capacity in Oklahoma City. Another NIH award, R24OD034438, totaling roughly $1.22 million, supports development of animal models and related research materials, enhancing the foundation’s ability to conduct translational studies. In addition, the foundation has an ongoing R35GM126980 Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award, worth over $3.2 million, which supplies long-term support for high-impact investigator-initiated research, underlining continued federal commitment to sustained scientific inquiry at OMRF. Such competitive NIH grants are a core part of the foundation’s financial foundation and enable scientists to pursue ambitious projects with national significance.

State-level investment also figures prominently in OMRF’s funding landscape. In late 2025, the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) awarded a substantial $9.9 million Legacy Grant to launch a new institute within the foundation focused on chronic disease research. This funding is directed toward establishing the TSET Institute for a Healthier Oklahoma, which will expand OMRF’s capacity for laboratory and clinical studies into inflammation, impaired immunity and accelerated aging, and will include enhanced telehealth facilities, expanded biorepository space and a center for healthy aging — all aimed at tackling some of the state’s most pressing health challenges.

Philanthropic foundations based in Oklahoma have also been vital supporters of the foundation’s work. For example, the Presbyterian Health Foundation has been a long-standing partner, awarding multiple grant cycles to OMRF for research across diverse biomedical fields. In one recent cycle, PHF provided 16 research grants totaling $1.1 million, funding critical equipment and studies into cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, blindness, healthy aging and genetic heart defects. Earlier cycles saw even larger grant commitments shared between OMRF and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, underscoring PHF’s continued role in advancing research infrastructure and discovery across the Oklahoma Health Center campus.

Private philanthropists and long-term donor networks contribute significantly as well. The foundation reports nearly 1,000 loyal donors who have given consistently for five or more years, collectively contributing nearly $80 million toward research efforts. Among these donors, historic contributors like the Oklahoma Association of Mothers Clubs have supported OMRF since the 1950s, illustrating the deep community roots underpinning its philanthropic base. Donor generosity extends beyond unrestricted gifts to include contributions from trusts and private foundations such as the Ja and Leta M Chapman Trust and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, which provide multi-million-dollar grants supporting core research programs and specialized imaging initiatives.

Community-focused fundraising events also play a role in sustaining OMRF’s work. Events like the annual “241” fundraiser have raised significant sums — including a record $830,000 in one recent year — with proceeds directed to recruiting and retaining scientific talent and funding research where it is most needed.

Financial reports from the foundation show that competitive research grants — particularly from the NIH — make up a substantial portion of total revenues, often surpassing $60 million annually, while private contributions from gifts, trusts and bequests add millions more to support innovation and discovery. Combined, these diverse funding streams have enabled OMRF to maintain robust research programs, attract top scientific talent, and pursue translational research that holds promise for improving health outcomes both within Oklahoma and around the world.