In 1985, House Bill 2290 created a center for occupational disease research and provided continuous base funding from the State of Oregon Workers' Compensation Division. Programmatic approval and funding authority for the center was granted by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education in December 1987. The new center's purpose was mandated to include one or more of the following activities:

Research on the adverse impact of chemical and physical agents on the nervous system (neurotoxicology) was chosen as the center's scientific focus because the brain is central to human function and represents the bodily system most sensitive to chemicals, and study of neurotoxicology would be complemented and enhanced by proximity to internationally recognized neuroscientists already at OHSU. Research at the center would support the institution's educational and clinical programs in toxicology, occupational health and environmental hazards.

A number of broad goals for the new center were established, including:

Peter Spencer, Ph.D., F.R.C.Path was appointed director and senior scientist of the new center in 1988. Later that same year, he and a growing staff began scientific operations in temporary facilities. CROET moved into its permanent facilities (entry pictured) on the OHSU campus in 1993.

After discussions with state, national and international authorities in occupational disease research, the new research institute was named the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology (CROET). This title reflects the reality that diverse factors found in the environment, the home, the pharmacy and the workplace impact the ability of our workforce to operate in a safe, healthy and productive manner. The name affords access to a wide array of grant support and represents a magnet to attract the breadth of scholarly expertise required to build a research operation of the highest caliber.