[1] CHORI is based in Oakland, California, and operates a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) biomedical research facility[2] that houses 300 staff members.

[citation needed] It includes eight research centers that conduct focused research on cancer, critical care medicine, genetics, immunobiology and vaccine development,[3] blood and marrow transplantation and cellular therapies, nutrition and metabolism, prevention of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

[4][6] CHORI is also a teaching institute[6] with educational programs for high school, college, doctoral and post-doctoral students.

[7][5] CHORI is the first research institute in North America to transplant and cure a child with alpha thalassemia major,[citation needed] is a leading center for the use of cord blood and bone marrow transplantation in children with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, and offers the only not-for-profit Sibling Donor Cord Blood Program in the world.

[citation needed] CHORI began in 1959 with a small group of scientists and initial financial support from Children’s Hospital Oakland and the family of Lt. Bruce Lyon.