Our History

Almost a year prior to the establishment of the Presbyterian Medical Center, the San Francisco Institutes of Medical Sciences was established as an independent institute to continue medical research when Stanford moved to Palo Alto.

California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute has and continue to make many important contributions to biomedical and behavioral research. See a list of highlights of contributions.

Timeline

By 1961, research at the Medical Center was supervised by the Research Committee of the Medical Staff, of which Frank Gerbode, M.D. was Chairman. Others serving on this Committee are Knox H. Finley, M.D.; Arthur Jampolsky, M.D.; John J. Osborn, M.D.; Victor Richards, M.D.; Arthur Selzer, M.D.

The Institutes of Medical Sciences became the Medical Research Institute of San Francisco in 1982. In May 1993, the Medical Research Institute of San Francisco merges with California Pacific Medical Center to create the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute (CPMCRI).

1959
The San Francisco Institutes of Medical Sciences is established with headquarters at Webster and Clay Streets. This non-profit California Corporation is created to engage in research in the medical sciences and to further post-doctoral medical education. The original incorporators and Board of Directors are: Frank Gerbode, M.D.; Knox Finley, M.D.; Arthur Jampolsky, M.D.; Fred H Merrill, M.D.; Henry W. Newman, M.D., John J. Osborn, M.D., Arthur Selzer, M.D., and Mrs. Harley Stevens. Dr. Gerbode is the first president of the Institute of Medical Sciences.

1962
Heart Research Center is established through a NIH grant of approximately $2 million. Officers are: Frank Gerbode, M.D., President; Arthur Jampolsky, M.D., Vice-President; John J Osborn, M.D., Secretary-Treasurer.

1964
Institutes of Medical Science moves into new building at Clay & Webster (two floors added in 1967) Affiliated with the Institute: Heart Research Institute, Research Data Facility, Smith Kettlewell Institute of Vision Sciences (SKIVS), Institute of Health Research, Institutes of Neurological Sciences.

1969
Research Institute of Laboratory Medicine opens Oct 1 as a department of the IMS.

Smith-Kettlewell Institute of Visual Sciences Research Building dedicated on Nov. 11, 1969. This building site is adjacent to the IMS research building.

1981
The largest clinical research program in the country for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease), headed by Forbes Norris, M.D., begins at the Pacific Campus.

1982
Institutes of Medical Science becomes Medical Research Institute of San Francisco.

1985
Medical Research Building is renamed Frank L.A. Gerbode Research Building.

1986
Smith Kettlewell Institute of Vision Sciences (SKIVS) separates from Medical Research Institute of San Francisco in December 1986.

1988
The Joint Program on Research Development - managed by Joint Council on Research Development [staff of Medical Research Institute, Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute] is charged with leadership in developing research on the Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center campus & promoting communication among researchers.

1990
Geraldine Brush Cancer Research Institute (GBCRI) laboratories are officially dedicated on Jan 24, 1990.

1991
David Fielder is appointed Executive Director.

1993
The Medical Research Institute of San Francisco merges with California Pacific Medical Center to create the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute (CPMCRI) in May 1993. David Fielder becomes California Pacific's Vice President Research.

1997
CPMCRI launches its research program in complementary medicine.

2000
Warren S. Browner, M.D., MPH is appointed Scientific Director and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

2003
The CPMC Research Institute launches the Centers of Research in Clinical Excellence (CRCLE), which benefits patients by coupling state-of-the-art clinical care with advanced information gathering.

2005
New laboratory space at Brannan site opens.