About Sanford Research

Leading the Way in Medical Research

In 1998, the University of South Dakota and Sanford Health formed the South Dakota Health Research Foundation in order to foster an environment for stimulating and coordinating health-related research.  In 2006, Sanford Research came under the controlling interest of Sanford Health, an integrated health care system headquartered in the Dakotas.  This transition has placed Sanford Research as a separate 501(c)3 research enterprise within one of the largest health systems in the nation with a presence in 26 states and nine countries.  In 2018, the Neuropsychiatric Institute (NRI) joined Sanford as the Center for Biobehavioral Research (CBR), expanding Sanford Research to Fargo, ND.

With a team of more than 250 researchers, Sanford Research supports basic, translational and clinical research in diverse areas including: Pediatrics and Rare Diseases, Cancer Biology & Immunotherapies, Cellular Therapies & Stem Cell Biology, Behavioral Sciences, Diabetes, Genetics & Genomics, Enabling Technologies, and Environmental Influences on Health and Disease.

Locations

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Leadership

David A. Pearce, PhD

President of Innovation, Research & World Clinics, Sanford Health
Scientist, Pediatrics & Rare Diseases Group
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine 

Stephen Wonderlich, PhD

Vice President for Research
Chief of Behavioral Health Research, Sanford Health Fargo
Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences

Lora Black, RN, MPH, OCN, CCRP

Executive Director, Clinical Research - Sanford Research
Associate Professor, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Kyle Roux, PhD

Executive Director of Biomedical Research
Scientist, Enabling Technologies Group
Sanford Research Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Steven Powell, MD

Head of Enterprise Oncology Research
Medical Oncologist
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Jill Weimer, PhD

Senior Director, Therapeutic Development
Scientist, Pediatrics & Rare Diseases Group
Sanford Research Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Sanford Health News

Classes & Events

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    PROMISE Summer Camps

    Wed 12/03/25 2:00 PM - Wed 12/03/25 4:00 PM
    Sanford PROMISE Community Lab

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    PROMISE Summer Camps

    Sat 12/06/25 2:00 PM - Sat 12/06/25 4:00 PM
    Sanford PROMISE Community Lab