Coleen Yearick

Oregon Research Institute

Founded in 1960, Oregon Research Institute (ORI) is a charitable 501(c) 3 research center, dedicated entirely to understanding human behavior and improving the quality of human life. Funded by research grants from the National Institutes of Health and by the United States Department of Education, ORI scientists study such topics as childhood obesity and behavioral problems, promoting health across the agespan, preventing and treating teen substance use and abuse, and understanding and preventing eating disorders. Emerging areas include genetics, opioid addiction, Alzheimer's Disease, and health economics. ORI began with just a few scientists and staff working out of one small office in Eugene, Oregon. Now, with 150 employees and a budget of $10 million for 2019, ORI is the largest independent behavioral research center in Oregon. There are currently 43 research scientists working on 40 funded grants. ORI's funded research grants range from small developmental studies to large efficacy trials. About half of the current studies are clinical trials.