Season’s greetings from the Indiana University Office of the Vice President for University Relations!
With a few days remaining until the end of 2025, we have many reasons to be grateful and hopeful. This was a year filled with promising new partnerships, new educational pathways, and new pipelines of talent and innovation, as we continued to work together to further Indiana University’s mission to serve communities across our state and improve Indiana’s future economic prosperity.
Last week, President Pamela Whitten delivered Indiana University’s State of the University address which highlights IU’s momentum and impact across our state.
IU is driving affordability and opportunity.
- In-state tuition remains flat, mandatory fees have been reduced, and 55% of IU undergraduates graduate with zero student loan debt.
- IU is #1 in Indiana for study abroad and #4 nationally, giving our students a global perspective few institutions can match. We pair that global reach with hands-on learning and workforce experiences here at home like the Eli Lilly and Kelley Indianapolis Business Plus co-ops.
- In 2026, IU will open its Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., providing students unparalleled opportunities to develop as civic leaders and engage with professionals in technology, business, media, law, and the arts.
IU is investing in innovation and workforce readiness.
- New degree programs in biomedical sciences, biotechnology business, and engineering are launching to meet Indiana’s workforce needs.
- AI-powered advising tools and streamlined student systems are improving retention and graduation rates.
IU’s research enterprise is surging.
- IU surpassed $1 billion in annual research – a 34% increase since 2021 - driving discoveries that translate into cures, companies, and community growth.
- Over $250 million is being invested to position Indiana as a global leader in life sciences.
- The IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB) at 16 Tech, supported by a $138 million Lilly Endowment grant, is creating a hub for biosciences, technology, and AI innovation to help strengthen our communities.
- IU Innovates and the IU Health Incubator are accelerating entrepreneurship and supporting up to 40-health tech startups per year. We have doubled its office space in Bloomington, opened a new space at IU South Bend, and are launching an office in Indianapolis.
These achievements reflect IU’s commitment to being a catalyst for innovation, economic vitality, and shared prosperity across Indiana. As we look ahead to the legislative session, we ask for your partnership in advancing policies that strengthen Indiana’s workforce and reduce student debt.
Together, we can ensure that IU remains a model for public research universities – comprehensive, nimble, and focused on impact for students and communities everywhere.
And we have much to look forward to in 2026!
To all our many colleagues, friends and supporters across the state, nation and world, thank you for your continued support of IU, and we wish you a joyful, restful and happy holiday season!
Lilly and IU to expand access to clinical trials and latest innovative treatments for Hoosiers
Indiana University and Eli Lilly and Company have announced a groundbreaking five-year agreement worth up to $40 million, aimed to expand access to clinical trials in Indiana and strengthen the state’s life sciences leadership.
“This agreement marks a new chapter for Indiana University and how we work with industry partners — moving with speed, purpose and a focus on real-world outcomes,” said Pamela Whitten, president of Indiana University. “Together with Lilly, we’re investing in Indiana’s innovation ecosystem, building a platform that advances cutting-edge research and care and preparing students to lead in tomorrow’s industries. It’s a win for our university, our state and, most importantly, the patients and communities we serve.”
This partnership will redefine and accelerate clinical trial innovation through advanced, AI-enabled infrastructure – streamlining trial design, accelerating patient recruitment, and improving operational efficiency. Together, IU and Lilly will tackle some of the most pressing health challenges of our time, advancing Alzheimer's care and research while also targeting diabetes, cancer, and emerging therapies.
Beyond research, the initiative will invest in Indiana’s future workforce, creating a robust talent pipeline for the state’s $99 billion life sciences sector. IU students and professionals will gain cutting-edge training in biotechnology and clinical research, ensuring Indiana remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.
The initiative will be led by Indiana University Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB) at 16 Tech - IU’s hub for academic-industry collaboration - and builds on decades of partnership between IU and Lilly. Together, they aim to create a best-in-class model for clinical research that benefits patients, drives economic growth, and positions Indiana as a global leader in life sciences.
This agreement underscores IU’s unwavering commitment to innovation, workforce development, and improving health outcomes for Hoosiers and beyond.
Read more about the IU/Lilly agreement
IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences
State Update
Members of the Indiana General Assembly returned to the State House earlier than normal for two weeks in December to debate mid-cycle congressional redistricting. Both chambers also held hearings, and the Senate moved several bills out of committee.
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
Previous Federal Reports
Economic Engagement Update
“Coral Corral” and Award-Winning Startup Help IU Researchers Attack Antibiotic Resistance
In the basement of the Biology Building on the landlocked Indiana University Bloomington campus, two scientists are using small corals growing in a tank of salt water to fight antibiotic resistance, which causes an estimated 2.8 million treatment-resistant infections and 35,000 deaths in the U.S. every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Learn more about Quornix
Indiana University turns small-town dreams into community action plans
Municipal and county leaders often hire consultants for analysis and assessment when drafting economic development plans, but the support can be costly. For Daviess County, Indiana, having Indiana University faculty and students do research and identify next steps brought clarity to renewal projects in downtown Washington, Indiana.
IU Bloomington alumnus Bob Grewe, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corp., said that a $3.1 million multi-purpose community venue called The Commons has been drawing people downtown for farmers markets and concerts. But he realized that The Commons needs to be complemented by a vibrant main street to keep patrons in the area before or after an event. He hopes visitors will opt to stay for the day, evening or weekend. His vision is coming to life in part through the Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative led by the IU Center for Rural Engagement. IU faculty and students have partnered with Daviess County organizations and Purdue Extension Community Development on 27 revitalization projects.
Learn more about the Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative
IU in the News
IU Indianapolis Marks Construction Milestone with Beam-Signing Ceremony for James T. Morris Arena
Indiana University Indianapolis marked a major milestone in the construction of the James T. Morris Arena, a new $110 million athletics and community facility that will elevate IU Indy’s profile in collegiate athletics and contribute to downtown Indianapolis’ role as a premier destination for sports and community events.
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Fernando Mendoza Named Indiana’s First Heisman Trophy Winner
Indiana football history was made on Dec. 13 in New York City as Indiana redshirt-junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named the 91st winner of the Heisman Trophy by the Heisman Trophy Trust. Mendoza was presented with the award by Chris Fowler on ABC's presentation of the ceremony from Jazz at Lincoln Center's Appel Room in New York City. Mendoza became the first Heisman Trophy winner from a Big Ten institution since Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith won in 2006.
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IU McKinney Students Advocate for Hoosiers Facing Housing Instability
Hundreds of eviction cases are filed each week in Marion County, and vulnerable households that lack legal representation are often unaware of their options. Through the Housing, Health and Human Rights Clinic at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, students gain hands-on experience while advocating for Hoosiers at risk of displacement.
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IU Economics Students Travel to Washington, D.C. to Meet with Distinguished Alumni, Policy Experts
During the Fall semester three undergraduate and 16 graduate students from the Economics department within the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with distinguished alumni and policy experts shaping today’s economic landscape. Ike Brannon (Ph.D. ’93), an IU Economics graduate and president of the consulting firm Capital Policy Analytics, drew on his extensive network to coordinate multiple events for the students.
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Sports Capital Journalism Students Cover Hoosier Big Ten Championship Victory
Sara Jane and Chris Schumerth, master’s students in the Sports Capital Journalism Program at Indiana University Indianapolis, had a bird’s-eye view of the game that evening from inside a press box. Working among a crowd of seasoned sports reporters, Jane and Schumerth gathered stats while paying close attention to every moment of the Hoosiers’ battle to a 13-10 victory.
Read the full story
