Indiana University Foundation, Inc.

Indiana University announces IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB) at 16 Tech Innovation District, funded by $138M Lilly Endowment grant. IU LAB aims to make Indiana a global bioscience leader, focusing on diabetes, neuroscience, rare diseases, cancer, and regenerative medicine. The initiative includes academic, research, and business components, fostering partnerships and economic growth in Indianapolis.

Indiana University establishes IU LAB at 16 Tech Innovation District with a $138M Lilly Endowment grant, aiming to advance human health and bioscience innovation, focusing on diabetes, neuroscience, rare diseases, cancer, and regenerative medicine. IU LAB will integrate education, research, and business incubation, fostering talent development and economic growth in Indianapolis.

Indiana University will use $138 million from the Lilly Endowment to build IU LAB, a 150,000-square-foot bioscience research facility in the 16 Tech Innovation District. Focusing on diabetes, neuroscience, rare diseases, cancer, and regenerative medicine, IU LAB aims to foster academic-industry partnerships and commercialize new therapeutics. Expected to open by 2027, it will also offer youth programs and support neighborhood revitalization.

Indiana University President Pamela Whitten highlighted student success, transformative research, and IU's impact on Indiana in her 2024 State of the University address. She emphasized progress toward the IU 2030 strategic plan, with over 432 initiatives supporting it. Successes include increased enrollment, reduced student debt, new degree programs, $980 million in research expenditures, and expanded nursing programs.

Cooper Tinsley, a Biotechnology major with a Political Science minor at Indiana University, is passionate about the intersection of science and policy. He has held leadership roles in IU Student Government, championed student initiatives, and interned at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, exploring biotechnology's impact on national security.

CU Anschutz Medical Campus receives up to $46 million in federal funding over five years to pursue the first-ever full eye transplantation, part of a national effort to cure blindness. The interdisciplinary project involves novel stem cell and bioelectronic technologies, with teams from multiple institutions collaborating and competing to achieve the goal of restoring vision through eye transplantation.

New FDA rules mandate clearer drug ad risk disclosures, impacting TV and radio ads. Despite industry adoption, social media influencers promote drugs with little oversight. A proposed bill aims to regulate online drug promotions, requiring risk disclosure and payment transparency.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb concluded an international economic development trip to the Middle East, focusing on defense partnerships, high-growth industries, and collaboration with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in sectors like life science, energy, and sports innovation. The trip included meetings with senior Saudi officials, a new partnership between the Indiana National Guard and Saudi Arabia, and visits to Indiana-based companies like Zimmer Biomet. This was Holcomb's 27th and final international trip as governor.

IU's radiation safety team, led by Christopher Harvey, ensures safety across clinical, research, and hospital settings, managing radioactive materials and ensuring compliance with regulations. The team's work is crucial for diagnostic imaging and treatment of diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's, balancing safety with innovation.

Scholars discuss the regulatory landscape surrounding GLP-1 drugs and dietary supplements, including FDA approval of Ozempic and Wegovy, supply shortages, high costs, and concerns over over-prescription and long-term effects. They also explore the need for broader FDA authority over supplements and the impact of celebrity endorsements on weight-loss products.