OMRF

02/27/2026

Rare diseases affect an estimated 300 million people worldwide – so many that the last day of February is set aside each year to recognize them.

For Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Dr. Wan Hee Yoon, this year’s Rare Disease Day carries more significance than usual. It comes the same week that The American Journal of Human Genetics published his lab team’s discovery of an ultra-rare neurological disease.

🧬 Read more: https://omrf.org/2026/02/27/rare-disease-day-has-special-meaning-for-omrf-scientist/

02/24/2026

Dr. Paul Kincade devoted his life to medical research, spending his entire career probing the mysteries of the human immune system. That commitment continued upon his death, with the former vice president of research at OMRF making a $500,000 estate gift to OMRF.

Read more: https://omrf.org/2026/02/23/researcher-leaves-400000-to-omrf/

02/20/2026

Help us welcome our new Ambassadors to OMRF! ⭐ As a part of our Ambassadors program, these young leaders help us advocate for medical research and share the good things OMRF is doing through research! 🧬

Meet Perrin Duncan, Mike Hearne, Kyle Muzny, Caitlin Tharp and Madeleine Williams!

02/20/2026

Say hello to our newest principal investigator, Dr. Amanda Sharpe! 👋 Dr. Sharpe's lab focuses on how chronic low levels of inflammation in the brain can affect the entire body. 🧠 We are excited to welcome her to our Aging & Metabolism research program.

Meet Dr. Sharpe: https://omrf.org/2026/02/19/omrf-adds-new-brain-researcher/

02/19/2026

Each year, we recognize our employees' years of service and longevity with an employee-wide celebration! 🎉 This year, we had many one-year anniversaries, five, ten, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and one employee who celebrated 45 years at OMRF!

We are so grateful for everyone who dedicates their lives to OMRF, and it takes everyone here to help make discoveries that make a difference! 🧬

02/17/2026

Watch more from our friends at KOCO about our grand opening of the Meinders Center for Neurodegenerative Research!

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has launched the Meinders Center for Neurodegenerative Research, thanks to an $8 million donation, to advance studies on brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

02/17/2026

OMRF dedicated the Research Tower's fifth floor as the Meinders Center for Neurodegenerative Research thanks to a $8.25 million gift by Herman Meinders and the Meinders Foundation. The new space will serve as a hub for studying brain diseases in Oklahoma.

“Our ultimate goal is to improve diagnostics and treatment options for the millions of Americans who live with debilitating brain diseases,” said OMRF President Dr. Andrew Weyrich. “This new research center represents an important step forward in reaching that goal.”

Read more: https://omrf.org/2026/02/16/omrf-dedicates-meinders-center-for-neurodegenerative-research/

02/13/2026

We're showing our hearts some love this Valentine's Day with the annual cardiac climb! ❤️ Each year around Valentine's Day, we challenge our employees to climb all seven floors of our Research Tower to promote healthy hearts! 🫀

02/13/2026

Harrison and Elaine Levy have made a $1 million gift to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation to support Alzheimer’s research. To honor that gift, on Wednesday OMRF dedicated the Levy & Ray Family Laboratory for Alzheimer’s Research.

Harrison Levy, a longtime member of OMRF’s Board of Directors, described the donation for Alzheimer’s research at OMRF as “deeply personal.”

Read more about the dedication: https://omrf.org/2026/02/12/1-million-gift-strengthens-alzheimers-research-at-omrf/

02/12/2026

OMRF's Dr. Heather Rice studies amyloid precursor proteins and their role in Alzheimer’s. Thanks to a gift from Harrison and Elaine Levy, her lab will continue to advance this research!

02/10/2026

OMRF’s Teen Leaders program provides group activities, panel discussions with foundation scientists, and tours of the foundation’s labs. Now in its 14th year, the program is open to high school students entering their sophomore, junior and senior years. Applications are due March 1! ⭐

Learn more + share this with a student you know! https://omrf.org/2026/02/09/omrf-seeks-teen-leaders-for-2026-27-school-year/