An $8.25 million donation from Herman Meinders and The Meinders Foundation has transformed an unfinished floor in the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s research tower into a hub for studying brain diseases.
OMRF scientists and Board members, along with members and representatives of the Meinders family, dedicated the new center Friday. In the center, OMRF researchers will investigate brain diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, with the ultimate goal of helping to improve the therapeutic landscape for these conditions.
“These generous gifts from Herman Meinders and his foundation have created Oklahoma’s only center dedicated to scientific studies of brain diseases,” said OMRF Board Chairman Len Cason. “Our scientists already have made groundbreaking discoveries in this area. These gifts will enable us to build upon those breakthroughs.”
During the dedication ceremony, Cason received a surprise from his longtime friend Mo Grotjohn, treasurer and trustee for The Meinders Foundation: a $1 million endowment established in Cason’s name at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to benefit OMRF.
“Not only has Len provided fantastic legal advice to the Meinders Foundation for more years than either of us would like to admit, but he’s also celebrating his 25th anniversary as OMRF Board chairman this year,” Grotjohn said. “This endowment is the perfect way to honor his dedicated service to both foundations.”
The new Meinders Center for Neurodegenerative Research resulted from a conversation a year ago between Cason and his friend Mo Grotjohn, treasurer and trustee for The Meinders Foundation. Grotjohn had read a newspaper article about a National Institutes of Health grant awarded to OMRF scientist Mike Beckstead, Ph.D., for Parkinson’s research.
“As I learned about Dr. Beckstead’s research, I became convinced this was a cause worth supporting, so I contacted Len and then shared the information with members of the Meinders family,” Grotjohn said. “Ultimately, we met with OMRF’s physicians and scientists who study these diseases. We all agreed that Herman would consider this a worthy endeavor.”
Herman Meinders, an Oklahoma City businessman and philanthropist, contributed $2 million toward the gift before his death in March 2025. The Meinders Foundation later added $6.25 million.
Meinders and his wife, LaDonna, were passionate supporters of causes that included research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Their gifts established the Meinders NeuroScience Institute and the Meinders Center for Movement Disorders at Oklahoma City’s Mercy Hospital. Both centers provide advanced treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which Herman Meinders lived with over his final 10 years.
Ten OMRF scientists lead labs that study various aspects of neurodegenerative diseases. The new Meinders Center for Neurodegenerative Research at OMRF will integrate the work of these labs, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the causes behind brain disorders, including the environmental and genetic factors that increase the risk of developing one.
OMRF is also in discussions with physicians at the Mercy Meinders centers, with the aim of developing collaborative projects that can build on both institutions’ strengths to advance treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
The Meinders Center at OMRF will feature eight labs, two conference rooms, office spaces, a walk-in freezer and other rooms for sample storage in ultralow temperature freezers.
“Our ultimate goal is to improve diagnostics and treatment options for the millions of Americans who live with debilitating brain diseases,” said OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D. “This new research center represents an important step forward in reaching that goal.”
