Altarum Institute traces its history back to 1946 with the founding of the Willow Run Laboratory in Ypsilanti, Mich. In 1972, the Willow Run Laboratory was renamed the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM). In 2001, ERIM acquired Vector Research, Inc., a leading provider of health care forecasting models and decision support tools for federal and state government clients. Later that year, ERIM became Altarum Institute. To further advance strategic growth in health care, Altarum acquired Health Systems Research, Inc. in 2006.