Thanks to a $138 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, Indiana University will build a new bioscience lab in Indianapolis.
The IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, or IU LAB, will open in Indianapolis' 16 Tech Innovation District in 2027. According to a university release Thursday, the six-story facility will focus on research, commercialization and talent development.
It will research cancer, diabetes and obesity, neuroscience, rare diseases and regenerative medicine.
IU LAB’s leader hasn’t been announced yet, but the university said that leader will report directly to IU President Pamela Whitten.
IU LAB will include six components:
- The Academic Gateway for degrees, classes and credentials
- The Futures Center for real-world, practical experiences in tech fields
- The IU Innovates Bio Start-Up Center to support entrepreneurs
- The Public-Private Partnerships Center to host local, state and national collaborations and commercialize new products
- The Joint Center of Excellence for Point of Care Precision Medicine with IU, the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, IU Health, Eli Lilly and Company and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
- The Translational Bio Center for bioscience companies and entrepreneurs to test their discoveries
Whitten said IU LAB will provide education and training in life science and bioscience.
“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,” Whitten said in a news release.
Read more: Whitten to invest $250 million in life and health sciences
The grant is the largest ever donated to IU for research and development, according to the university. N. Clay Robbins, Lilly Endowment’s chairman, said the group is pleased to bring IU LAB to life.
“The Endowment has been impressed with IU’s imaginative and strategic approach to developing this initiative that should dramatically strengthen one of our state’s most important industry sectors and help improve the health of Indiana residents,” Robbins said.
Listen: IU receives $16 million grant from Lilly Endowment
The new lab will partner with other university units, such as the School of Medicine and Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. Industry partners include 16 Tech, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, BioCrossroads, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute and Regenstrief Institute.
IU Board of Trustees Chair Quinn Buckner said the new lab “represents Indiana University at its finest.”
“It combines our history of excellence in research and innovation with our collaborative spirit,” Buckner said in the news release. “It expands our commitment to make the Indianapolis region a global leader in biosciences. It demonstrates how our institution can effectively serve the community and the state.”
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright .
