Our research gains significance by virtue of geography.

Great Falls is located 185 miles from Montana State University and 165 miles from the University of Montana, the state research universities. It is the 3rd largest city in Montana with a population of ~60,000 people since the 1970’s. Benefis Health System and Malmstrom Airforce Base are the largest employers. In addition to the five tribal nations, seven Hutterite colonies populate Great Falls and Cascade County. It is uncommon for Great Falls to be covered in national media such as the New York Times. However, an item that was published in January of 2021 entitled 52 Places to Love in 2021 chronicles the Golden Triangle and Great Falls.

To quote: “Ancient volcanic ranges — the Bears Paw Mountains, the Highwoods, the Little Rockies — sprawl in the middle of enormous wheat fields and acres of rangeland….. You’re small in that part of the country.”  Against this backdrop, the MRI is the closest biomedical research facility to more than two thirds of the state of Montana.