Dear IBRI stakeholders,
The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) is becoming talent-rich with the infusion of both seasoned and rising star researchers to the organization.
These innovative new scientists, combined with the strong expertise that already thrives here, are driving advances in diabetes care, research into substance use disorders and creation of new technologies that improve patient health.
In my unique position as a native of Indiana and as a leader deeply rooted in the evolution of the Indiana life sciences economy, I am witness to the infinite potential that exists in our ecosystem and the ways that the IBRI is capitalizing and contributing:
- Catalyst — The IBRI and its Applied Data Sciences Center (ADSC) figured prominently in a major real-world data study of type 2 diabetes that was published January 2019 in Nature Medicine. The IBRI was the catalyst that brought together Roche Diabetes Care BmBH, IBM and Eli Lilly and Company on this multi-year study.
- Collaborator — The Mastracci Lab of the IBRI Diabetes Center assisted in the discovery of a new genetic disease named DHPS Deficiency with researchers from Columbia University.
- Convener — The IBRI Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Center (PBC) became fully operational to aid in addressing some of the most pressing health issues in Indiana (i.e., opioid crisis) through the development of biotherapeutics.
- Complementor — The IBRI was instrumental in creating an environment that shifted our Single Cell Analytics Center into a shared resource to benefit all scientists at the IBRI. The former center is now known as Bioanalytical Technologies.
- Connector — The team watched in anticipation at the topping-off ceremony for Building 1, the new home of the IBRI and many of its partners in the 16 Tech Innovation District.
You will read more about these achievements and many others throughout this report. And, you’ll learn about a group of other new researchers who are already innovating at the IBRI through the Lilly Diabetes Center for Excellence, a collaboration with the Indiana University School of Medicine and Eli Lilly and Company.
Growing a vibrant research organization is challenging yet invigorating. It can be an emotional rollercoaster to build an organization that must deliver on the high expectations of its founders and realize their vision of a world-class research organization. True to that vision, the IBRI continues to make strides in catalyzing activities across Indiana’s life sciences to deliver value to the people of Indiana and the world. Weighty aspirations indeed, but those that our founders, board of directors and IBRI leadership are poised to achieve.
The generosity of our friends and IBRI founders was also realized in 2019 with a $5 million challenge gift from an anonymous donor and an initial $2.5 million gift toward the challenge from John and Sarah Lechleiter of Indianapolis.
The IBRI remains steadfast in its mission and has already delivered on its commitment to Indiana and beyond to be a catalyst, connector, convener and collaborator to complement the burgeoning academic and industrial life sciences research ecosystem in Indiana and beyond.
As we move deeper into 2020 ... the progress of the redesigned strategic plan shows tremendous promise ... an experienced search organization and committee will no doubt announce a new CEO in the coming months ... and preparations are underway for the move to 16 Tech.
We are ready to leverage all the future holds and are grateful you are with us on this journey!
Best regards,
Daniel F. Evans
Executive Chairperson
IBRI Board of Directors