The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota

What The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota does

The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is a non-profit biomedical research institute founded in 1942 by Jay C. Hormel and The Hormel Foundation in Austin, Minnesota, and operating today as a unit of the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office. It employs approximately 150 staff, including nearly 30 faculty, and conducts research focused on cancer and chronic diseases under a "Cancer+" research framework that spans cancer biology, structural biology, immunology, drug discovery, and chronic disease mechanisms. The institute offers clinical studies serving rural southeastern Minnesota communities, training programs from K-12 through postdoctoral levels, and community outreach including wellness programs and educational initiatives.

Core technical capabilities center on the Minnesota Bioimaging Center (MBiC) and a CryoEM facility outfitted with a Thermo Scientific Titan Krios 5 (Cold FEG, Falcon 4i with Selectris X energy filter, AFIS throughput ~900 images/hour, AI-driven EPU acquisition), a Titan Krios G2, and an Arctis Cryo-Plasma FIB/SEM with xenon/argon/oxygen ion switching. Adjacent Instrument Cores provide flow cytometry (BD FACS Aria II, FACSCalibur), mass spectrometry (ABSCIEX 5600 Triple TOF), X-ray diffraction (Rigaku), confocal/fluorescent microscopy, and supporting molecular biology instrumentation. Research is organized into multiple sections including Cancer Systems Biology (multi-omics with ML/AI predictive modeling of drug resistance), Structural Virology (VIPERdb database maintenance), Structural Biology of Membrane Transport, Cancer Cell Biology and Translational Research (cholangiocarcinoma, primary cilium biology), and Molecular Bioengineering and Cancer Vaccines.

The institute is funded through a mix of federal research grants (NIH, Department of Defense CDMRP), The Hormel Foundation (which covers administrative and operational costs, allowing 100% of donations to flow directly to research), and donor contributions routed through the University of Minnesota Foundation. Designated funds include General Research, Children's Research, Paint The Town Pink, Education, Farm To Wellness, Prostate Cancer, and Breast Cancer. Strategic partnerships anchor the research model: Mayo Clinic, Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and international collaborators including KARUS Therapeutics (UK), Biodonostia Research Institute (Spain), and Regenacy Pharmaceuticals. The institute does not sell commercial products or services; cryoEM facility access, clinical study participation, training program enrollment, and donor contributions are the primary non-grant engagement channels.

Name

The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota

Legal name

The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota

Website

https://hi.umn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Hormel Institute is a University of Minnesota biomedical research institute in Austin, MN (~150 staff, ~30 faculty) focused on cancer and chronic disease research, operating elite CryoEM bioimaging facilities and serving rural Minnesota communities through clinical studies, training programs, and education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomedical Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Biomedical research
• Cancer research
• CryoEM imaging
• Structural biology
• Research training

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: The institute receives research funding from federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense (CDMRP). These grants support cancer research, drug discovery, and other biomedical investigations.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: The institute accepts donations through the University of Minnesota Foundation. The Hormel Foundation provides funding to cover administrative and operational costs, allowing 100% of donations to directly fund research. Multiple designated funds exist including General Research Fund, Children's Research Fund, Paint The Town Pink Fund, Education Fund, Farm To Wellness Fund, Prostate Cancer Fund, and Breast Cancer Fund.
3. University of Minnesota Support: As part of the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office, the institute receives institutional support and operates within the university's administrative framework.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Hormel Institute is a biomedical research institute that conducts cancer and chronic disease research using advanced technologies including cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM), structural biology, and molecular biology. The institute operates research facilities and shared scientific resources, runs clinical studies for rural Minnesota residents, and delivers training programs from high school through postdoctoral levels. Research findings are disseminated globally through peer-reviewed publications and scientific collaborations.

Product overview

The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is a biomedical research institute focused on cancer and chronic disease research. The institute offers a portfolio of research facilities and services including the Minnesota Bioimaging Center (MBiC) for cutting-edge bioimaging with cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryoET); an Instrument Cores facility with shared scientific equipment including flow cytometers, mass spectrometers, X-ray diffraction, and confocal microscopes; clinical studies serving rural Minnesota communities; and training programs from high school through postdoctoral levels. The institute's research programs span multiple specialized areas including Cancer Systems Biology (using machine learning for predictive models), Structural Virology (with VIPERdb database), Membrane Transport structural biology, Gene Transcription research, Nucleotide Metabolism and Drug Discovery, and Molecular Bioengineering for cancer vaccines. Additional services include community outreach and K-12 education programs, and various donor-advised giving funds supporting cancer research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Minnesota Bioimaging Center (MBiC): A phased project building innovation space for cutting-edge bioimaging research capabilities including cryo-EM and cryo-ET.

Products and services

• Minnesota Bioimaging Center (MBiC) A phased project building innovation space for cutting-edge bioimaging research capabilities, including high-resolution single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) analysis and cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) capabilities, along with a STEM learning lab.
• CryoEM Facility Services Cryo-electron microscopy facility providing high-resolution 3D modeling of biological materials too small for optical microscopy, including Titan Krios instruments, Arctis Cryo-FIB, and sample preparation equipment; provides consultations and training to external researchers.
• Instrument Cores / Shared Resources Shared scientific instruments including Becton Dickinson FACS Aria II and FACSCalibur flow cytometers, ABSCIEX 5600 Triple TOF mass spectrometer, Rigaku X-Ray diffraction system, confocal and fluorescent microscopes, real-time PCR, spectrophotometers, and high-speed and ultracentrifuges.
• Training Programs Multiple training programs including SURE Internship (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience), STEP (Student Training Experience Program), PACE (Postbaccalaureate Accelerated Career Experience), Postdoctoral Development Program, HI-InSPIRE, and High School Training.
• Clinical Studies Clinical research studies serving rural southeastern Minnesota communities, including dietary studies, smoking and alcohol research, tobacco research programs, and partnership with the 10,000 Families Study.
• Cancer Cell Biology and Translational Research Program Research section focused on understanding basic biological processes of normal cell transformation into cancerous cells, with emphasis on primary cilium in tumor biology and cholangiocarcinoma.
• Cancer Systems Biology Program Research section using multiplatform genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data with machine learning and AI algorithms to build predictive models of drug resistance.
• Transcription and Gene Regulation Program Structural biology research program studying transcription initiation, elongation, and termination using cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography.
• Structural Biology of Membrane Transport Program Structural biology research using Cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography to study membrane transport, homeostasis, and biogenesis, particularly lipid/protein interactions in ABC transporters.
• Structural Virology, Informatics and Customized Vaccine Design Program Research program determining 3D structures of viral capsids and designing novel protein shells for customized vaccines, including maintenance of VIPERdb virus structure database.
• Nucleotide Metabolism and Drug Discovery Program Research program focused on purine metabolism, purinosome structures, immunomodulatory therapies, and photoreceptor signaling mechanisms.
• Molecular Bioengineering and Cancer Vaccine Program Research program developing capsid-modified AAV vectors for gene therapy and cancer vaccines through rational molecular bioengineering.
• Community Outreach and Education Community engagement programs including K-12 STEM education, wellness programs, and clinical studies participation for rural Minnesota communities.
• Donor and Giving Programs Various donation programs including General Research Fund, Children's Research Fund, Paint The Town Pink Fund, Education Fund, Farm To Wellness Fund, Prostate Cancer Fund, Breast Cancer Fund, and Planned Giving options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of publications annually in top-tier peer-reviewed journals including Nature, Cell Metabolism, Hepatology, and others
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mayo CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hormel Institute partners with Mayo Clinic as part of its collaborative research approach. Mayo Clinic representatives serve on The Hormel Institute Advisory Board. The partnership facilitates joint research projects, clinical study collaborations, and knowledge sharing in cancer research and biomedical sciences.
• Masonic Cancer Center, University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hormel Institute is a member of the Masonic Cancer Center, the University's comprehensive cancer center. This membership enables collaborative cancer research, shared resources, and integration into the broader University of Minnesota cancer research ecosystem.
• Regenacy Pharmaceuticals IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Regenacy Pharmaceuticals for research related to cholangiocarcinoma and primary cilia biology, exploring novel therapeutic strategies based on restoration of primary cilia integrity.
• KARUS Therapeutics (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration with UK-based KARUS Therapeutics for cancer research, particularly in cholangiocarcinoma and biliary tract cancers, focusing on therapeutic development based on cilia-related mechanisms.
• Biodonostia Research Institute (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration with Biodonostia Research Institute in San Sebastian, Spain, for bile duct cancer research and cholangiocyte biology studies.
• Thermo ScientificcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific for CryoEM technology, including Titan Krios 5, Titan Krios G2, Arctis Cryo-Plasma FIB/SEM, Vitrobot Mark IV, and other microscopy equipment. Thermo provides cutting-edge electron microscopy instruments and software including EPU for automated acquisition.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stowers Institute for Medical Research: Independent, non-profit basic research institute with ~100+ researchers focused on gene regulation, regeneration, and cancer. Comparable to Hormel as a privately funded biomedical research institute with significant capital equipment and a small, focused faculty operating outside the traditional university department model.
• Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Non-profit research and education institution with deep cancer biology and neuroscience programs. Peer to Hormel as a privately endowed research institution operating significant training and graduate programs.
• Scripps Research Institute: Non-profit research organization with structural biology, immunology, and chemistry programs. Peer to Hormel as a non-profit biomedical research institute with significant NIH funding and structural biology/cryoEM emphasis.
• Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research: MIT-affiliated non-profit research institute focused on cancer, immunology, and structural biology. Peer to Hormel as a small, elite research institute affiliated with a major university, with strengths in basic science and graduate training.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: Non-profit cancer research and treatment center focused on immunotherapy, hematopoietic cell transplantation, and prevention. Peer to Hormel as a non-profit, NIH-funded research institute with strong cancer focus and external grant dependency.
• Salk Institute for Biological Studies: Independent non-profit research institute focused on cancer, neuroscience, immunology, and plant biology. Comparable as an endowed, mid-sized non-profit biomedical research organization with focused faculty and donor-supported operations.
• Allen Institute: Non-profit medical research organization known for large-scale science programs and technology platforms. Peer to Hormel as a non-profit research institute that builds and operates large scientific instrumentation platforms.

Direct peers

• La Jolla Institute for Immunology: Non-profit immunology and structural biology research institute with significant cryoEM infrastructure. Closest peer to Hormel given similar focus on structural biology, immunology, and a non-profit research model with instrument-heavy operations.
• Wistar Institute: Non-profit biomedical research institute focused on cancer, immunology, and infectious disease, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. Peer to Hormel as a university-affiliated non-profit cancer research institute with significant training and graduate education programs.
• Van Andel Institute: Independent non-profit biomedical research and education institute with cancer and neurodegenerative disease focus. Closely comparable to Hormel in size, mission, and reliance on private foundation funding (Van Andel Education Institute, analogous to Hormel Foundation).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCg52Yh9XEHAwbdfTnTOEdqg
• Facebookfacebook.com/thehormelinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-hormel-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota