IU Names Vice President for Government and Community Relations
Indiana University has named Shannon Kiely Heider as its next vice president for government and community relations, effective March 30.
Heider earned her undergraduate degree at IU Bloomington and her law degree from the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. Her career includes service with Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration, consulting at the Krieg DeVault law firm and more than 14 years in corporate government and business leadership at Cummins.
“Shannon is a highly respected leader with deep experience across government, law and industry,” IU President Pamela Whitten said. “She understands the responsibility of a public university and will be a tremendous advocate for Indiana University at the local, state and federal levels.
As vice president for government and community relations, Heider will lead engagement with government officials and community stakeholders and advance IU’s policy priorities in support of the IU 2030 strategic plan.
Read more about Shannon Kiely Heider here
IU engineers cellular brain models to push new boundaries in Alzheimer’s research
Using little more than a few drops of blood, Indiana University scientists are applying advanced medical and engineering know-how to create simplified models of the brain for studying Alzheimer’s disease.
Along with other dementias, the devastating illness currently impacts 7.2 million Americans, including 1 in 10 Hoosiers over age 65.
The work — spread across IU labs in Bloomington, Indianapolis and Terre Haute — is made possible by brain organoids, which are basic cellular clusters that mimic the structures of the human brain. Discovered about 10 years ago, these groundbreaking tools are offering scientists insights never previously seen into the function of the human brain.
When grown from the blood sample from an Alzheimer’s patient, brain organoids can also provide a powerful way to study the genetics behind the disease. IU’s brain organoids are grown from samples collected through the leading-class research happening at the IU School of Medicine, the country’s largest medical school.
Learn more about IU’s work fighting Alzheimer’s with precision science
State Update
This Statehouse Update provides a summary of bills the IU State Relations team is tracking and that moved during the sixth week of session, which consisted of the committee report deadline for both chambers and the third reading deadline for the Senate on Thursday. Due to the winter storm, the House cancelled session and committees on Monday, Jan. 26 and moved their third reading deadline to Monday, Feb. 2. Bills must pass on third reading out of their originating chamber to still be eligible to become law in the second half of session.
Read the State Update
Federal Update
This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional and Executive Branch activities of interest in Washington, D.C.
Read the Federal Update
Economic Engagement Update
IU’s musculoskeletal research brings better health solutions to communities and collaborators
Indiana University bioscience researchers and innovators are improving Hoosiers’ mobility through advancements in drug technologies and treatments that accelerate bone recovery, while boosting the state’s status as an epicenter of musculoskeletal health.
Half of women and a quarter of men over the age of 50 will suffer a bone fracture in their lifetime due to low bone density. It’s estimated that 300,000 hip fractures occur in the U.S. each year. Studies show that 20% to 30% of elderly people who fracture a hip die within a year.
“In order for Hoosiers to have the life they want, they need to be able to move well,” said Melissa Kacena, professor of orthopedic surgery at the IU School of Medicine and a leading bone researcher. “Whether it’s picking up your grandkids, running a marathon or being able to work, if we can’t move the way we want to, we aren’t living our best lives.”
Learn more about IU's impact on musculoskeletal research
3 IU researchers awarded funding to commercialize their work
Indiana University researchers are driving innovation across fields and tackling real‑world problems through breakthrough discoveries. Aligned with the IU 2030 strategic plan’s commitment to pursuing transformative research, the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office has awarded three researchers with funding to help them advance their innovations in the commercialization process.
“These projects highlight how fundamental discovery at IU can be translated into new diagnostics, therapeutic and devices,” said Nick Hammond, IU associate vice president for innovation and commercialization. “We are proud to support innovative research that moves bold ideas into real-world impact. These awards recognize not only the scientific excellence of our researchers, but also their dedication to translating discovery into meaningful solutions for our communities.”
Learn more about these IU innovations in the commercialization process
IU in the News
Kelley Direct Online MBA ranked No. 1 nationally; IU Online bachelor’s degrees No. 1 in Indiana
Continuing its decades-long leadership in online education, Indiana University’s online programs are among the best in the nation according to the 2026 Best Online Program rankings from U.S. News and World Report, which were released today.
The No. 1-ranked online MBA in the country is the Kelley Direct Online MBA program offered by the IU Kelley School of Business. The program, which is the first online MBA offered by a top-tier business school, was also ranked in the top 3 in all specialty categories. Additionally, the online master’s degrees in education, offered by the IU School of Education in Bloomington, ranked 13th nationally. IU’s online bachelor’s degrees, offered by IU Online, ranked No. 1 in Indiana.
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Research at IU reveals what memory in rats can tell us about human memory
In a new study, Indiana University researchers observed episodic memory in rats to a degree never documented before, suggesting that rats can serve as a model for complex cognitive processes often considered exclusively human. Unlike semantic memory, which involves isolated facts, episodic memory involves replaying events in the order and context in which they occurred.
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With $1 million NSF grant, IU researcher tracks pesticide exposure across primates, people and farms
From tropical forests to smallholder farms, Indiana University’s Michael Wasserman is tracing how naturally occurring and human-made chemicals move through ecosystems, and how agricultural change may impact health for both people and wildlife.
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