The Oklahoma City-based Presbyterian Health Foundation (PHF) has announced more than $5.5 million in research grants to OU Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF).

Eighty-one grants were awarded in support of research discovery projects in the areas of cancer, diabetes, neuroscience, cardiovascular, autoimmune diseases, and COVID-19. PHF plans to award a total of $8.8 million before its fiscal year ends on September 30.

“Our medical research grants offer opportunities for healthcare discoveries through all stages of the medical research pipeline,” said PHF President Rick McCune. “We fund early investigation through our seed grants, keep laboratories operational so investigators can continue their work through our bridge grants, and fund collaborative discovery through our team science awards, encouraging researchers to work together across disciplines to advance and strengthen their work. OK-1, a promising new cancer drug developed by PHF-funded OU College of Medicine investigator Dr. Doris Benbrook, is an excellent example of a discovery propelled from the lab to clinical trials here on the Oklahoma Health Center campus.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/nicolas)