Hoosier State Today

Indiana University (IU) has launched an initiative to accelerate bioscience innovation and education with the support of a $138 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. 

According to a news release, the IU Life and Biosciences (IU LAB) program will operate in Indianapolis’s 16 Tech Innovation District, combining research, education, and industry partnerships to drive advances in healthcare and economic development.

“Indiana University is launching an initiative so transformative that it will change the very landscape of our capital city and state,” IU President Pamela Whitten said in a press release. “Lilly Endowment’s extraordinary investment in IU LAB will enable IU to turn this bold vision into reality. The state-of-the-art facility will empower IU LAB to facilitate critical academic-industry partnerships that will drive discovery, innovation and the commercialization of new therapeutics, diagnostics and devices that will improve human health in Indiana and beyond. In addition, this initiative will provide unparalleled education and training opportunities to the next generation of life and bioscience leaders.”

The initiative will focus on addressing critical health challenges, including diabetes, obesity, cancer, neuroscience, rare diseases, and regenerative medicine, while fostering entrepreneurship, developing talent, and supporting community revitalization efforts.

IU LAB will feature six interconnected components designed to integrate academic and industry efforts. The Academic Gateway will offer new degree programs and advanced courses, while the Futures Center will provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. 

The IU Innovates Bio Start-Up Center will support entrepreneurs in launching bioscience startups, and the Public-Private Partnerships Center will facilitate collaborations at local, state, and national levels. 

Other components include the Joint Center of Excellence for Point of Care Precision Medicine, which will drive research partnerships, and the Translational Bio Center, offering advanced facilities for testing life science innovations.

In addition to fostering scientific discovery, IU LAB will actively engage with the local community by creating educational programs and pathways to careers in biosciences. 

The initiative will also participate in the 16 Tech Community Investment Fund, which provides grants to support neighborhood revitalization projects. As part of IU’s $250 million investment in life sciences and biotechnology, outlined in the IU 2030 strategic plan, IU LAB will leverage the expertise of IU’s School of Medicine, the Convergent Bioscience and Technology Institute, and other key resources.

Founded in 1937 by J.K. Lilly and his sons, Lilly Endowment Inc. is an independent private foundation separate from Eli Lilly and Company. It focuses on community development, education, and religion, with a strong emphasis on initiatives in Indianapolis and Indiana while also funding programs nationwide.