Methodist Research Institute (MRI) is home to seven laboratories researching a variety of medical issues with the goal of developing a care delivery model that will result in improved clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients. The Institute strives to embody and preserve the traditional strengths and values of Methodist Hospital, while supporting the current and evolving strategies of Clarian Health. To this end the Institute engages the Clarian medical staff in an interdependent, cooperative effort to generate and share new knowledge regarding the mechanisms and management of disease and the maintenance of health. The Institute's ultimate goal is to conduct research that supports a cost-effective care delivery model and results in improved clinical outcomes and quality of life for its patients.

Research has been an integral part of Methodist Hospital since its founding in 1908. The hospital's first formal medical staff was organized in 1920 as the "Clinical Research Society" with Dr. Murray Hadley as Chairman. In 1956 medical research was established as a formal hospital department under the direction of Dr. Frank Lloyd, Sr. When Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children consolidated to form Clarian Health in 1997, the Department of Medical Research was reconstituted as the Methodist Research Institute. Its rich history of research contributions to the hospital includes:

• Pioneering work in solid organ transplantation
• The testing and evaluation of minimally invasive surgical techniques
• The development of laparoscopic bladder augmentation using small intestinal submucosa (SIS)
• Work in the health policy arena (including the development and testing of the first globally-priced heart surgery reimbursement model for Medicare)

Today the Methodist Research Institute operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation and is the wholly owned research subsidiary of Clarian Health.