# Altarum Institute

> nonprofit research organization

**Wikidata**: [Q4736189](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4736189)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altarum_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/altarum-institute

## Summary
Altarum Institute is a nonprofit research organization founded in 1946 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, United States. Dedicated to the generation of new knowledge, the institute focuses primarily on health care research and operates as a distinct entity separate from academic universities or commercial enterprises.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 1946
- **Headquarters:** Ann Arbor, United States
- **Type:** Nonprofit research organization; instance of business and research institute
- **Primary Focus:** Health care
- **Website:** http://www.altarum.org
- **Subsidiary:** Palladian Partners
- **Twitter Handle:** @altarum (Verified; created March 3, 2010)
- **YouTube Handle:** @altarumorg (Channel ID: UC3C_pLrjfULH_sil5GPquRA)
- **GRID ID:** grid.422349.a
- **ROR ID:** 01kq09n77
- **ISNI:** 0000000122982867
- **Ringgold ID:** 41538
- **Crunchbase ID:** altarum-institute
- **KISTI ID:** K000216243

## FAQs
**Q: What is the primary purpose of Altarum Institute?**
Altarum Institute is a research institute, which means its primary purpose is to conduct systematic investigation to generate new knowledge, specifically within the health care sector.

**Q: Where is Altarum Institute located and when was it established?**
The institute is headquartered in Ann Arbor, United States, and was established in 1946.

**Q: How does Altarum Institute differ from a university or standard corporation?**
As a research institute, it is dedicated purely to research rather than a combination of teaching and research (like a university) or purely commercial goals (like a standard business).

**Q: What entities are connected to Altarum Institute?**
Altarum Institute owns a subsidiary called Palladian Partners and maintains verified social media profiles on Twitter and YouTube.

## Why It Matters
Altarum Institute represents a critical form of knowledge-producing institution that serves as a dedicated engine of discovery. By operating as a nonprofit research institute rather than a university or commercial entity, Altarum concentrates resources and talent purely on investigation, accelerating breakthroughs in its field. This organizational structure allows for the pursuit of long-term, complex research—specifically in health care—that might not fit within standard corporate timelines or academic teaching obligations. In an era where innovation addresses global challenges, institutes like Altarum act as essential infrastructure for advancing human knowledge and solving societal problems without the distraction of profit motives or undergraduate education requirements.

## Notable For
- **Dedicated Research Focus:** Exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, distinct from membership organizations like scientific societies.
- **Health Care Specialization:** Produces research and materials specifically focused on health care.
- **Organizational Structure:** Maintains a subsidiary organization, Palladian Partners, and operates as a nonprofit business.
- **Longevity:** Established in 1946, providing decades of operational history in the research sector.
- **Digital Verification:** Maintains verified social media presence with tracked metrics, such as a Twitter account created in 2010.

## Body

### Organizational Identity and Classification
Altarum Institute is formally classified as a nonprofit research organization and an instance of a business. It falls under the broader category of "research institute," defined as an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. Unlike universities, which balance teaching and research missions, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends, Altarum exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. It is distinguished from think tanks by its focus on fundamental inquiry and health care products rather than solely policy-oriented research.

### Location and History
The institute was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, United States. Its long history places it among established research organizations in the country.

### Research Focus and Output
The primary product and material produced by Altarum Institute is health care. By focusing on this sector, the institute applies its research capabilities to critical issues in medical science and health services.

### Subsidiaries and Connections
Altarum Institute operates a subsidiary known as Palladian Partners. This structural relationship expands the institute's operational capacity. The organization is also recognized across multiple knowledge bases, evidenced by its inclusion in the Global Research Identifier Database (GRID) and Crunchbase.

### Digital Presence and Media
Altarum maintains an active digital footprint.
- **Twitter:** The organization operates the handle **@altarum**, a verified account created on March 3, 2010. As of January 2021, the account had 3,998 followers.
- **YouTube:** The channel operates under the handle **@altarumorg** (ID: UC3C_pLrjfULH_sil5GPquRA). The channel was started on December 7, 2010. As of a point in time in late 2025, the channel had 172 videos, 134 subscribers, and 34,021 total views.
- **Web:** Its official website is located at http://www.altarum.org.

### Identification and Databases
The entity is tracked and cataloged across numerous international academic and organizational databases:
- **ISNI:** 0000000122982867
- **ROR ID:** 01kq09n77
- **GRID ID:** grid.422349.a
- **Ringgold ID:** 41538
- **KISTI ID:** K000216243
- **Microsoft Academic ID:** 1297333082 (discontinued service)
- **Freebase ID:** /m/0bmh5wn
- **Quora Topic:** Altarum-Institute

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Google Knowledge Graph
3. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
4. GRID Release 2015-12-14
5. GRID Release 2016-12-06
6. Quora
7. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
8. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
9. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
10. YouTube API