The Hormel Institute

06/05/2026

Something special is coming to Austin.

Pets & People Community Care is a free event focused on caring for both people and pets, because if we’re honest, sometimes the furry family members are running the household anyway.

Pet services include:
• Brief physical exams
• Vaccines (distemper & rabies)
• Flea/tick prevention
• Pet Food

Human services include:
• Cholesterol, A1C, blood pressure, and hemoglobin testing
• Vision and hearing services
• Food distribution
• Ask-a-pharmacist services
• Community resources and support

📍 The Hormel Institute - 801 16th Ave NE Austin, MN
📅 Saturday, July 25
⏰ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Help us spread the word by sharing this post.

And while you’re here…drop a picture of your pet in the comments because we all know that’s the real reason people open Facebook.

06/03/2026

Todd the Bear has become Austin, Minnesota's most talked-about resident this week.

In honor of Men's Health Week, we're reminding everyone that while bears may be known for being tough, even tough guys should know their numbers.

Stop by Wellness on Wheels tonight at 4th Avenue Fest for free health screenings offered by The Hormel Institute in partnership with Mower County Public Health, including:

✔ Blood Pressure
✔ Cholesterol
✔ A1c
✔ Hemoglobin

A few minutes could give you valuable insight into your health.

📍Horace Austin Park–Between the pool and Austin Public Library
⏰ 4–7 p.m.

No bear encounter required. 🐻

06/02/2026

If you've been following along, you may have noticed there's been a bear making the rounds in Austin this week.

After visits to the Austin Police Department, K Consignments/Gypsy ice cream shop, Bendixen Jewelry, and Sweet Reads, it appears Todd the Bear has now stopped by The Hormel Institute.

We're pleased to report he's taking his new role as a research assistant very seriously.

06/02/2026

Some partnerships make a lasting impact.

Last Friday, we had the opportunity to welcome representatives from Mower County Government for a Paint the Town Pink check presentation. This year, they raised more than $4,500 for cancer research.

During their visit, Assistant Professor Dr. Eric Rahrmann and Senior Scientist Dr. Stan Peixoto shared how their research is helping advance our understanding of cancer and move us closer to better prevention, detection, and treatment strategies.

And while we're a little sad to see the summer food truck fundraiser become a thing of the past, we're thankful for the community support it generated and the impact it made along the way.

Thank you, Mower County, for helping move cancer research forward.

06/01/2026

A new summer of discovery is underway at The Hormel Institute.

Last week, we welcomed our 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) interns. Over the next 10 weeks, these students will gain hands-on research experience while working alongside scientists to advance cancer and biomedical research.

The SURE Program has helped launch the careers of future researchers, physicians, educators, and healthcare professionals for decades, and we're excited to see what this year's group will accomplish.

05/29/2026

Cancer's deadliest feature isn't the original tumor; it's when cancer spreads.

Researchers at The Hormel Institute have uncovered new insights into a powerful protein that could play a key role in metastasis, the process by which cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

While discoveries like this may happen in the lab long before they reach patients, each new finding helps researchers better understand how cancer works and how we might one day stop it.

Because every breakthrough starts with a question, and every answer brings us one step closer.

Learn more about the research:

18 May 2026 Interrupting Cancer’s End Goal: New Insights from a Powerful Protein May 18, 2026 | Austin, Minn. — Liver cancer is responsible for more than 700,000 deaths worldwide each year, and in the United States, rates have tripled over the last 40 years, according to the American Cancer Soc...

05/25/2026

Today, we remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Their sacrifice made our freedoms possible, and we are deeply grateful for their courage, dedication, and commitment.

As we spend time with family and friends this Memorial Day, we also pause to reflect on those who never made it home.

From all of us at The Hormel Institute, we honor the fallen heroes and the families who continue to carry their legacy forward.

05/22/2026

Cancer metastasis is incredibly complex, and understanding it takes both biology and technology.
We’re excited to feature Linghua Wang, MD, PhD, as a speaker at the 7th Annual Global Cancer Consortium Conference.

At the University of Texas, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Wang’s research combines AI, genomics, and spatial biology to better understand how tumors evolve, interact with the immune system, and respond to treatment.

https://www.linkedin.com/events/7430359406002786304?viewAsMember=true

05/21/2026

What if cancer could hide in the body, undetected, only to return years later?

That’s the question Grace G. Bushnell, PhD, is working to answer.

Her research focuses on cancer dormancy, how tumor cells can “go quiet,” evade the immune system, and later re-emerge. By uncovering how this process works, she’s helping move us closer to preventing cancer from coming back.

At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, her team is exploring new ways to track and study these hidden cells, and what it takes to stop them for good.

This is the kind of work driving the Global Cancer Consortium.

Learn more and register: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7430359406002786304?viewAsMember=true