Legacy Research Institute

A vigorous research program plays a key role in a dynamic health care system like Legacy Health, supporting the highest quality care to our patients.

The Legacy Research Institute agenda is structured to bring the most advanced health care treatment modalities and cutting edge technologies quickly on-line, where they can be applied to the benefit of our patients and community. The majority of research at Legacy Health System takes place at our state-of-the-art research center.

Legacy Research Institute       
1225 NE 2nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97232
Telephone: 503-413-2150
Fax: 503-413-4942
Map/Directions

P. Ashley Wackym, M.D.
Clinical Vice President of Research


Recent Developments and News

In July 2011, The American College of Surgeons re-accredited the Legacy Institute for Surgical Education and Innovation (LISEI) for three years.

Recent landmark article in the Journal of Clinical Investigation co-authored by Detlev Boison, PhD and colleagues in the RS Dow Neurobiology labs shows that adenosine deficiency may be relevant to human epilepsy and that a ketogenic diet can reduce epileptic seizures by increasing adenosine receptor-mediated inhibition.
Link to full-text:  A ketogenic diet suppresses seizures in mice through adenosine A1 receptors.


Brad Fortune, DO, PhD and Stuart Gardiner, PhD, scientists in the Devers Eye Institute research labs, receive new NIH grant awards with August 1 start dates.

Ken Ward, MD, has received two more years of funding from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  The new funding period will commence 9/1.
Information about Dr. Ward and his reseach to develop an artificial pancreas can be found here.