Indiana University plans to spend more than $250 million to create two research institutes at IU Indianapolis focused on biosciences and biotechnology, IU President Pamela Whitten announced during her State of the University address today.

The institutes will be named the Convergent Bioscience and Technology Institute and the Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing.

Through the bioscience and technology institute, IU aims to develop wearable and implantable medical devices and sensors and other technologies, like biomarkers that can detect disease early on, and drug treatments developed and delivered through artificial intelligence, according to a news release. The human health and well-being institute’s mandate is treating chronic diseases using digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence to track obesity and diabetes.

The investment also allots $93 million for hiring faculty in life sciences, provide funds for research laboratory renovations at IU Bloomington as well as education and research initiatives, according to the release.

“Indiana University’s multimillion-dollar strategic investments in the biosciences will ensure IU continues to be at the forefront of driving life-changing discoveries and advancing a robust health care and life sciences ecosystem in Indianapolis and across the Hoosier state,” Whitten said in the release.

IU will spend the $60 million the General Assembly earmarked for IU Indianapolis “to expand and renovate STEM research and laboratory space and interdisciplinary research facilities — serving as an anchor for the IU Science and Technology Corridor.”

“Indiana University’s continued financial commitment to invest in its Indianapolis campus strengthens our state’s health care and life science pipelines and will help drive further economic growth throughout the high-tech bioscience sector,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the release.

The university will also spend or has budgeted:

• $47.4 million over five years in recruiting faculty in biosciences, biotechnology and human health at IU Bloomington.
• $46.1 million in faculty startup costs at IU Bloomington.
• $30 million to build a new medical education and research building at the IU School of Medicine.
• $23.1 million in lab and research facility renovations at IU Bloomington, assuming approval from the university’s board of trustees.
• $10 million in state funds to attract faculty to the new research institutes at IU Indianapolis.

Indiana University and Purdue University formally split Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis this year, creating two separate higher education institutes: IU Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Contact Jarred Meeks on X @jarredsmeeks or email him at [email protected]. 

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