Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma’s 4th District has received the 2025 Public Service Award from the Association of Independent Research Institutes (AIRI). The award recognizes his support for medical research and his efforts to increase federal funding for health initiatives.
Cole, who has served in the U.S. Congress since 2003 after replacing J.C. Watts, released a statement expressing gratitude for the recognition and highlighting the importance of medical research. “Medical research is essential to strengthening health care, developing new treatments and cures, combatting diseases, improving the well-being of Americans, and saving more lives. This is why, as former Chairman of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations subcommittee, working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we increased funding for medical research at the National Institutes of Health by nearly 50 percent in just seven years,” said Congressman Cole.
He also noted that two Oklahoma institutions—the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Laureate Institute for Brain Research—are members of AIRI and contribute significantly to biomedical advancements. “In Oklahoma, we have two institutes that are members of the Association of Independent Research Institutes: the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. Both conduct life-changing biomedical research,” he stated.
Cole reaffirmed his commitment to supporting medical science in Congress. “Biomedical research is an issue I am extremely passionate about, and I will always advocate for robust funding to discover new treatments and cures to better the health of the American people and ensure future generations are free of today’s diseases and chronic conditions.”
“It is truly an honor to be awarded the 2025 AIRI Public Service Award, and I want to thank the Association of Independent Research Institutes for all of the important work they do to improve the health of our nation,” Cole concluded.
Before entering Congress, Cole served in the Oklahoma Senate from 1988 to 1991. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1949 and currently resides in Moore. More background on Tom Cole can be found here.
Cole graduated from Grinnell College in 1971 with a Bachelor’s degree.
