The Rogosin Institute (RI) originated in 1955 when a Cardiorenal Laboratory was established at the Second (Cornell) Medical Division of Bellevue Hospital in New York City by the current director of RI. In 1956, the unit initiated New York City's first successful kidney dialysis program. In 1962, the unit moved to The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center as the Renal Laboratory and in 1963 performed the first kidney transplant in the metropolitan area. The unit expanded into the Rogosin Renal Laboratories - so named in honor of Israel Rogosin, a benefactor of The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. As the kidney program grew, the Laboratories evolved into the Rogosin Kidney Center in 1968.

The Center became part of The Rogosin Institute in 1983 when The Institute was formally established as an independent not-for-profit institution for health care and medical research. RI became an affiliate of The New York Hospital (now New York-Presbyterian Hospital) and Cornell University Medical College (now Sanford and Joan Weill Medical School of Cornell University). Activities were expanded to include research and treatment of cardiovascular disease and cancer of the kidney. Since then, RI has added research in diabetes, endotoxemia and telemedicine. In 1988 The Dreyfus Health Foundation (DHF) joined The Rogosin Institute. The DHF program sponsors international studies and educational programs in solving medical problems in medically underserved areas of the world. In 1993 The Institute became a sponsored member of the hospital network currently called New York-Presbyterian Healthcare Network.