Oregon Science

World-Class Research. Life-Saving Discoveries.

A Global Leader in Biomedical Research

Oregon is a national leader in biomedical research. Four research universities: OHSU, Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and Oregon Institute of Technology, combine with specialized institutes and non-profit research organizations to form an ecosystem that has contributed to some of the most significant medical breakthroughs of our time.

Home to one of only seven National Primate Research Centers, a world-renowned vaccine development institute, and over $1 billion in combined annual research funding, Oregon researchers work at the frontier of medicine. From pioneering HIV vaccine candidates to advancing treatments for childhood cancers, neurological diseases, and metabolic disorders, these discoveries don’t stay in Oregon; they become therapies that save lives around the world.

National Leadership

Oregon hosts one of only 7 NIH-funded National Primate Research Centers and the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Pacific Northwest.

$1 Billion+ in Research

Oregon’s universities and research institutes combine for over $1 billion in annual research funding, training the next generation of scientists and driving economic growth statewide.

Global Health Impact

Oregon-developed vaccines and therapies are in clinical trials worldwide, with potential to prevent HIV, treat childhood cancers, and cure genetic diseases.

Oregon’s Research Ecosystem

Oregon Health & Science University

OHSU is Oregon’s only academic health center, combining education, research, and patient care. With over 18,000 employees and $600 million in annual research funding, OHSU drives medical innovation across the state.

Knight Cancer Institute

Oregon’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, developing breakthrough immunotherapies and precision medicine approaches that are changing how cancer is treated worldwide.

Casey Eye Institute

A global leader in vision research, pioneering gene therapies for inherited blindness and developing treatments for age-related macular degeneration.

Brain Institute

Advancing our understanding of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological diseases through innovative imaging technologies and clinical trials.

Oregon National Primate Research Center

For over 60 years, the ONPRC has been at the forefront of biomedical research that requires living systems to understand human disease. Located in Hillsboro, the center is home to approximately 4,500 non-human primates and conducts research in five major divisions.

Neuroscience

Gene therapy for inherited blindness. Understanding age-related macular degeneration. Multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease research.

Pathobiology & Immunology

HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria vaccine development. Immunotherapy for cancer. Protecting infants born to HIV-positive mothers.

Reproductive Sciences

Restoring fertility in childhood cancer survivors. Improving pregnancy outcomes. Protecting fetal development.

Metabolic Health

Cell therapy for Type-1 diabetes. Understanding how maternal health affects offspring development.

Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute

Built on the OHSU West Campus, VGTI brings together world-leading scientists focused on developing vaccines and gene therapies for the world’s most challenging diseases.

HIV Vaccine Breakthrough

A VGTI-developed AIDS vaccine candidate has shown the ability to completely clear the virus from the body in preclinical studies. Phase 1 clinical trials began in 2021, licensed to Vir Biotechnology.

COVID-19 Response

VGTI scientists demonstrated COVID-19 immunity post-infection, developed prototype vaccines, and identified therapies to reduce lung complications, critical work during the pandemic.

Gene Therapy Innovation

A single experimental injection reduced HIV levels 1,000-fold in preclinical studies. One-time gene therapy could provide lifetime treatment for HIV and other diseases.

Oregon State University

Oregon’s largest public research university brings over $400 million in annual research funding, with particular strengths in environmental health, nutrition science, and pharmaceutical research that complement Oregon’s biomedical ecosystem.

Linus Pauling Institute

World-renowned research center studying micronutrients, aging, and disease prevention. Named for Oregon’s two-time Nobel laureate, the institute advances understanding of how diet affects human health.

College of Pharmacy

Training the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists while conducting cutting-edge drug development research, including novel drug delivery systems and therapeutic compounds.

Global Health Center

Addressing infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and health equity through collaborative research programs spanning multiple continents.

University of Oregon

The University of Oregon combines fundamental science discovery with translational research, accelerating the path from laboratory breakthroughs to clinical applications.

Knight Campus

The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact brings together bioengineering, data science, and molecular biology to fast-track discoveries into treatments and technologies.

Institute of Neuroscience

One of the nation’s leading neuroscience research programs, investigating brain development, neural circuits, and neurological disorders from cellular to behavioral levels.

Institute of Molecular Biology

Pioneering research in genetics, genomics, and molecular mechanisms of disease, contributing foundational discoveries that inform therapeutic development worldwide.

Oregon Institute of Technology

Oregon Tech is Oregon’s polytechnic university, bridging applied sciences with healthcare technology and biomedical engineering to train the workforce that keeps Oregon’s research enterprise running.

Medical Imaging Technology

Training radiologic science professionals and developing advanced imaging techniques that support diagnostic medicine and research applications statewide.

Health Informatics

Preparing professionals to manage the data systems that power modern healthcare, from electronic health records to clinical research databases.

Applied Research

Students and faculty collaborate on practical solutions in renewable energy, healthcare technology, and manufacturing, turning scientific concepts into working applications.

Non-Profit Research Organizations

Oregon Research Institute

Based in Eugene, the Oregon Research Institute (ORI) is an independent non-profit dedicated to behavioral and social science research. For over 60 years, ORI has conducted studies that improve health outcomes through evidence-based prevention and intervention programs.

Prevention Science

Developing and testing programs that prevent substance abuse, obesity, and mental health problems before they start; research that has influenced public health policy nationwide.

Behavioral Health

Pioneering digital health interventions and understanding the psychological factors that drive health behaviors, from smoking cessation to chronic disease management.

Youth & Family Research

Long-term studies on child development, parenting interventions, and family dynamics that have shaped how schools and communities support healthy development.

Oregon Translational Research & Development Institute

OTRADI bridges the gap between laboratory discovery and commercial application, helping Oregon’s research institutions translate scientific breakthroughs into products that reach patients.

Bioscience Incubation

Providing lab space, equipment, and expertise to early-stage life science companies, helping Oregon innovations grow from concept to clinical trials.

Technology Translation

Connecting university researchers with industry partners and funding sources to move promising discoveries through the development pipeline.

Workforce Development

Training the next generation of bioscience professionals through internships and partnerships with Oregon’s universities and community colleges.

This overview highlights some of Oregon’s major biomedical research institutions but is not exhaustive. Many additional organizations including community colleges, private research firms, hospital systems, and biotechnology companies, contribute to Oregon’s vibrant research ecosystem.

Why Oregon Science Matters

The research conducted in Oregon doesn’t stay in Oregon. Discoveries made here become treatments used around the world. Vaccines developed in Hillsboro protect children in Africa. Gene therapies pioneered in Portland restore sight to patients in Europe. Nutritional research from Corvallis improves health outcomes globally. Neuroscience discoveries in Eugene advance our understanding of the human brain. Prevention programs developed by Oregon’s non-profit researchers are used in schools and clinics nationwide.

Oregon’s universities, institutes, and non-profit organizations collaborate across institutional boundaries, sharing resources and expertise to tackle challenges no single institution could solve alone. This ecosystem represents decades of investment and infrastructure that cannot be easily replicated. When we support science in Oregon, we support human health everywhere.

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Explore Oregon Science

Future of the ONPRC

The latest on the Oregon National Primate Research Center, including the July 2026 resolution on its future.

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Animals in Science

Understanding the role of animals in biomedical research and the rigorous standards that protect their welfare.

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New Approach Methods

How Oregon researchers are developing and validating alternatives to animal models.

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Oregon Voices for Biomedical Research does not reflect the views or opinions, or speak on behalf of any of the Universities, Institutes or organizations highlighted on our website.