Our history includes decades of driven exploration and groundbreaking contributions to human health.

Pacific Northwest Research Institute (PNRI) maintains our founder’s original vision: investigators fearlessly pursuing game-changing discoveries. Our team of world-class scientists shares an enthusiasm for examining problems from different angles and “coloring outside the lines” in pursuit of elusive answers. We approach complex scientific challenges collaboratively, driving toward real-world solutions to improving human health.

A New Model for Research

William Hutchinson, MD understood the importance of free, unfettered research as an essential step in understanding and improving patient care and human health. He envisioned an independent facility where practicing physicians and surgeons would enjoy complete freedom to pursue their research. It would be a place where inquiring minds would be welcomed, helped, and encouraged in the pursuit to find answers “to all of mankind’s unsolved infirmities.”

Dr. Hutchinson launched PNRI in 1956 (originally named the Pacific Northwest Research Foundation) with a focus on basic and clinical research. Over the decades, our researchers explored a wide range of illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. As progress in cancer research accelerated, a new division spun off from the Institute in 1967, which eventually became the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Six Decades of Experience

Today, after six decades of groundbreaking research, we are rooted in our mission to discover new solutions in the fight against disease. By exploring the human body’s innate ability to remain healthy in the face of genetic and environmental risk, we are redefining genetic research.