In 2010, the Pacific Health Research & Education Institute (PHREI) became the successor-in-interest to Pacific Health Research Institute. Today, PHREI is providing the State with the needed technical and administrative infrastructure to successfully obtain and conduct health research and education programs.

The Pacific Health Research Institute, previously the Straub Medical Research Institute, was founded in 1960 by a group of physicians led by Dr. Joseph E. Strode from Honoluluﾒs Straub Clinic, who along with other civic leaders established the first organization in Hawaii dedicated to medical research.