The foundation awarded the 15 grants as part of its recent funding cycle.
The Presbyterian Health Foundation recently granted $932,000 to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation during its most recent funding cycle.
In total, OMRF received 15 grants that will support cancer research, multiple sclerosis studies, RSV and aging. Grant money will also purchase equipment and fund recruitment of senior scientists. Funds will also go toward essential equipment needs and recruitment funds for new senior scientists at the Oklahoma City-based nonprofit biomedical research institute.
The foundation primarily supports the state’s biotechnology, medical research and education organizations, with an emphasis on research and innovation taking place within the Oklahoma Health Center campus. The foundation’s grants within Oklahoma total more than $205 million since its inception in 1985.
“OMRF’s researchers continue to make excellent use of PHF grant funds intended to support early-stage research,” said PHF President Rick McCune. “They show success at leveraging our grant dollars to secure even more national funding, which is exactly what we hope to help them achieve.”
PHF grants to OMRF often serve as critical seed funding for research that bolsters applications for highly competitive federal funds, such as those from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
“PHF’s support is just vital to our scientists,” said Rod McEver, M.D., OMRF’s vice president of research. “Their consistent investment in early-stage experiments paves the way for the incredible innovation and discovery that happens here. This trust in our researchers changes lives worldwide.”
