The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation broke ground Wednesday on a center aimed at transforming patient care and chronic-disease research.
The three-story building will house the TSET Institute for a Healthier Oklahoma and the David R. Brown, M.D., Advanced Human Imaging Center. It is funded by a $9.9 million Legacy Grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and a major-gift campaign led by a $3.5 million donation from The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.
The new building will allow patients in OMRF’s Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence to undergo imaging procedures in the state’s first research-grade MRI. It will also add imaging and research capabilities that will enhance care and understanding of conditions such as arthritis and lupus.
“This building has lived in our dreams for a long time,” OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D., told the audience at the groundbreaking.
The Brown Center, which will house the MRI and other medical imaging technologies, will occupy the first floor of the building. Above it, the new TSET Institute will host lab and clinical studies focused on the three root causes of chronic disease: inflammation, impaired immunity and accelerated aging. A telehealth hub will provide remote specialty care and clinical trial opportunities for patients outside the metro area.
The 15,637-square-foot building is tentatively set to open in late 2027.
TSET is a state agency created by Oklahoma voters following the settlement of a multistate lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Its Legacy Grant to OMRF was one of 14 transformative projects totaling $150 million announced late last year to commemorate TSET’s 25th anniversary.
“Our board believes that the TSET Institute for a Healthier Oklahoma at OMRF will push boundaries,” said Lance Thomas, the agency’s interim director. “It will create a wide and very measurable impact on improving health here and, eventually, around the world.”
The new Brown Center means thousands of Oklahomans receiving care at OMRF will no longer need to travel elsewhere for an MRI.
“This building will enhance our ability to better care for our patients and will give us the resources to be more responsive and more creative in offering immediate answers and long-term solutions,” said Gabriel Pardo, M.D., director of OMRF’s Multiple Sclerosis of Excellence.
MS often causes mobility issues, and in severe cases, the autoimmune disease can cause paralysis or vision loss.
“It can be debilitating, as it once was for me, so I can’t overstate the value of having a one-stop shop for patient care,” said Kelsey D’Emilio, a patient in OMRF’s MS Center who spoke at the ceremony.
The Brown Center is named for the late Dr. David R. Brown, an orthopedic surgeon. His son, Dr. Randy Brown, serves on the boards of both the Noble Foundation and OMRF.
“Being involved with OMRF was a point of pride for my father,” Randy Brown told guests. “He would be thrilled to know that his efforts are still bearing fruit today alongside the work of everyone here.”
