The Hormel Institute was established in 1942 by Jay C. Hormel and is a research research unit of the University of Minnesota and collaborative research partner with Mayo Clinic. The Hormel Institute conducts research and provides education in the biological sciences with applications in medicine and agriculture. Its current focus is on cancer prevention and control. Previous milestone discoveries include the naming/research of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, as well as the anti-cancer benefits of compounds found in ginger and green tea in addition to other globally recognized cancer preventive research findings.

The Hormel Institute Expansion Project began in 2006 and is scheduled for completion summer of 2008. The expansion includes a new two-story building that houses 20 state-of-the-art research labs, expansion of existing research support areas and renovation of the 1959 building. The project will triple the size of The Hormel Institute and add over 100 new science research faculty and support staff.

The Grand Opening of The Hormel Institute Expansion Project is scheduled for October 3, 2008. As part of the celebration, a three day world cancer research conference will be held in Austin, MN October 4-7, 2008. Approximately 150-200 cancer researchers from around the world will attend the conference.

Grand Opening events open to the public will be scheduled throughout October.

The Hormel Institute Expansion Project is partially financed with fundraising development ongoing. The expansion was launched by historic donations ($13.4 million) given by The Hormel Foundation and ($5 million) Hormel Foods Corporation, along with major financial assistance given by the City of Austin, Mower County, the local community through the “Grow Science, Grow Austin” $1.5 million fundraising campaign and a federal grant secured by Congressman Tim Walz.

In February The Hormel Institute announced its purchase of the world’s most powerful supercomputer, the IBM Blue Gene/L. The Blue Gene/L is part of The Hormel Institute’s plan for development of a regional research technology center that will house the most cutting edge research technologies available today. Those technologies will be used by The Hormel Institute scientists along with other scientists from Mayo Clinic, IBM and University of Minnesota, bioscience collaborators, academic institutions and life science businesses throughout the region and beyond.