In 1994, the Medical Research Foundation (MRF) became an affiliate committee of the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Foundation. The MRF) was founded in 1942 by a group of businessmen and physicians for the purpose of stimulating medical research achievement in our state.

That first year, the program awarded $200. Today, through philanthropic support, the program awards more than $1 million per year to support exceptional research projects throughout Oregon and to acknowledge the work of outstanding investigators and mentors.