Medical Research Institute Council

Medical Research Institute Council
The Medical Research Institute Council (MRIC) was established in 1951 as a private independent initiative to raise funds for innovative biomedical research.

Throughout its history, the MRIC has raised more than $99 million to fund creative research in an amazing array of disciplines. The MRIC has firmly established itself as one of Chicago’s leading philanthropic organizations dedicated to funding basic and clinical medical research. Over the years, MRIC support has led to advanced investigation in cancer, heart disease, genetics microbiology and neonatology.

In 1991, the MRIC began its affiliation with Children’s Memorial Hospital. Since that time, the MRIC has been a principal benefactor of the Children’s Memorial Research Center, the research arm of the hospital and one of a handful of free-standing facilities in the nation devoted exclusively to pediatric research. Since its affiliation with Children’s Memorial, the MRIC has contributed more than $55 million including $5 million for the physical expansion of the research center.

Since joining the Children’s Memorial Research Center in January of 2004, I have been profoundly impressed and humbled by the dedication of the Medical Research Institute Council and its commitment to further pediatric biomedical research at Children’s Memorial Hospital. On behalf of the entire Children’s Memorial Research Center, I extend our deepest gratitude for your continuing support and confidence in our important work. We share a common passion for quality health care for all children.

Our physicians and scientists are committed to moving research quickly from the laboratory to the patient’s bedside. Your generous support gives our investigators the resources they need to make discoveries that can lead to the development of new therapies for clinical care.

The MRIC’s long-standing commitment to research is an investment in the quality of our lives and the well being of our children. The philanthropic efforts of the MRIC support creativity and innovation and enable our physicians and researchers to advance pediatric medicine through scientific breakthroughs that can lead to new or improved treatments for countless children and their families. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to pediatric biomedical research. You are truly changing lives.

Mary J.C. Hendrix, PhD
President and Scientific Director
Children’s Memorial Research Center