In 1963, a group of physicians from Honolulu’s Straub Clinic and other civic leaders established the first organization in Hawaii dedicated to medical research. The founders, led by Dr. Joseph E. Strode, believed that health research is the foundation of cutting-edge healthcare. The organization was called Straub Medical Research Institute (SMRI).

In 1974, SMRI was renamed the Pacific Health Research Institute (PHRI) to better reflect the organizationﾒs growth in stature and widening research focus. In 2010, the Pacific Health Research & Education Institute (PHREI) became the successor-in-interest to Pacific Health Research Institute. Today, PHREI is providing the State with the needed technical and administrative infrastructure to successfully obtain and conduct health research and education programs.