# Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

> biomedical research facility administered by the U.S. Department of Defense

**Wikidata**: [Q7965939](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7965939)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Reed_Army_Institute_of_Research)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/walter-reed-army-institute-of-research

## Summary
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) is a biomedical research facility administered by the U.S. Department of Defense. Established in 1953, it serves as a research institute and military unit under the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command. The facility is headquartered at the Forest Glen Annex in the United States.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** The entity is defined as a biomedical research facility, a research institute, and a military unit.
- **Inception:** The institute was established in 1953.
- **Administration:** It is administered by the U.S. Department of Defense.
- **Parent Organization:** WRAIR operates under the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command.
- **Predecessor:** The institute follows the Army Medical School.
- **Namesake:** The organization is named after Walter Reed.
- **Headquarters:** The facility is located at the Forest Glen Annex (Coordinates: Lat 39.005, Lon -77.054).
- **Website:** The official website is http://www.wrair.army.mil/.
- **Identifiers:** The institute is tracked under GRID ID `grid.507680.c`, ROR ID `0145znz58`, and ISNI `0000000122303166`.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research?
A: WRAIR is a biomedical research institute and military unit. Its primary function is to conduct research, serving as the U.S. Department of Defense's administered facility for these activities.

### Q: When was the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research founded?
A: The institute was established in 1953. It succeeded the Army Medical School.

### Q: Where is the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research located?
A: The institute is headquartered at the Forest Glen Annex in the United States. The geographic coordinates are latitude 39.005 and longitude -77.054.

### Q: Who manages or commands the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research?
A: The institute is administered by the U.S. Department of Defense and operates under the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command as its parent organization.

## Why It Matters
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) serves as a critical component of the United States' defense infrastructure, functioning as the primary biomedical research facility administered by the Department of Defense. As a military unit dedicated to scientific inquiry, it bridges the gap between military requirements and medical advancement. The institute's significance is highlighted by its direct lineage to the Army Medical School, indicating a long-standing institutional commitment to military medicine.

The organization plays a pivotal role within the Army's medical hierarchy, reporting directly to the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command. Named after Walter Reed, a figure synonymous with military medicine, the institute continues a legacy of addressing biological threats and health issues relevant to military personnel. Its existence ensures that the U.S. Army maintains a dedicated, in-house capability for advanced biomedical research and development.

## Notable For
- **Department of Defense Administration:** It is a distinct biomedical research facility directly administered by the U.S. Department of Defense.
- **Dual Status:** The organization holds a unique status as both a "research institute" and a formal "military unit."
- **Historical Lineage:** It is the successor to the Army Medical School, maintaining a continuous history of military medical research.
- **Global Recognition:** The institute is represented in multiple international knowledge bases and academic directories, including KISTI, the Library of Congress, and the Open Funder Registry.
- **Multilingual Presence:** The entity maintains Wikipedia entries and aliases in several languages, including English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese.

## Body

### Organizational Structure and Governance
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) functions as a multifaceted entity classified simultaneously as a research institute, a military unit, and a biomedical research facility. It is a subordinate command of the **United States Army Medical Research and Development Command**, which acts as its direct parent organization. Governance and administrative authority rest with the **U.S. Department of Defense**.

The institute's native label is "Walter Reed Army Institute of Research," and it is commonly referred to by the acronym **WRAIR**.

### History and Inception
WRAIR was officially established in **1953**. It serves as the organizational successor to the **Army Medical School**. The institute is named in honor of **Walter Reed**, the U.S. Army physician who in the early 20th century led the team that confirmed the theory that yellow fever is transmitted by a particular mosquito species, rather than by direct contact.

### Location and Facilities
The institute is headquartered in the United States at the **Forest Glen Annex**. Specific geographic coordinates for the headquarters location are latitude 39.005 and longitude -77.054. The official website for the facility is accessible at `http://www.wrair.army.mil/`.

### Academic and Identifier Data
WRAIR is indexed in numerous global scientific and library databases.
*   **Scientific Identifiers:** The institute holds the GRID ID `grid.507680.c` and the ROR ID `0145znz58`. Its ISNI is `0000000122303166`.
*   **Library Catalogs:** It is listed in the Library of Congress Authority ID as `n50068994`, the National Library of Israel (ID `987007352506105171`), and the German National Library (GND ID `2026093-3`).
*   **Funding and Research:** It is recognized in the Open Funder Registry with the ID `100010203` and has a KISTI ID of `K000216851`.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.wrair.army.mil/)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. GRID Release 2020-03-15
4. Quora
5. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
6. HAL
7. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Walter_Reed_Army_Institute_of_Research-BAE5WG)
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File