To tackle critical national security challenges, drive innovation and support U.S. global competitiveness, Indiana University has awarded eight IU research teams with the IU LAB National Security Biotechnology Challenge Grant. This one-time internal funding opportunity from the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences is designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across campuses and position researchers for future federal investment in this critical area.
"Indiana University is committed to advancing discoveries and innovation that meet our state and nation's top needs," IU President Pamela Whitten said. "Through the IU LAB National Security Biotechnology Challenge Grants, we are bringing together our top researchers to drive breakthroughs that will strengthen the country's global leadership in biotechnology innovation."
Selected projects align with the six strategic pillars outlined by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology: prioritize biotechnology at the national level; mobilize the private sector to get U.S. products to scale; maximize the benefits of biotechnology and defense; out-innovate strategic competitors; build the biotechnology workforce of the future; and mobilize the collective strengths of our nation's allies and partners.
"Congratulations to the IU research teams selected for this exciting opportunity," U.S. Sen. Todd Young said. "This program is a great example of how our Hoosier research community can help promote U.S. biotech and bolster our national security. I'm excited to see IU researchers play an important role in advancing American innovation and leadership in biotech."
Learn about the awardees
The selected projects use IU's strengths in a range of disciplines, including plant biology and critical diseases.
- Jiang Bian, associate dean of data science, the Walther and Regenstrief Professor of Cancer Informatics at the IU School of Medicine, and chief data scientist for IU Health and Regenstrief Institute, will create a standardized digital twin framework to model biological function across scales to simulate the progression of Alzheimer's disease. His team will use this framework alongside neural network tools to map the progression of Alzheimer's disease and quantify treatments.
- Feng Guo, associate professor of intelligent systems engineering in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering in Bloomington, will develop bio-computing models by using AI software that mimics biological reinforcement. This work will advance understanding of brain development and reward mechanisms while contributing to next-generation AI and computing.
- Roger Innes, IU Distinguished Professor of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington, will study microbiome engineering in plants by using RNA molecules to regulate gene activity. This approach could promote beneficial microbiomes and inhibit harmful ones in both plants and animals.
- Melissa Kacena, director of the Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health and Chancellor's Professor in the IU School of Medicine, and collaborators will develop AI models to create an analysis pipeline that incorporates fracture-healing data into existing AI frameworks. The team will leverage years of preclinical datasets to build tools that accelerate discoveries in human fracture recovery.
- Jay Lennon, a professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, will develop a framework to identify microbiomes that confer stress tolerance to plants. His work will inform strategies for managing agricultural systems, improving resilience to environmental change, and guiding interventions that stabilize or restore microbiomes across diverse contexts and environmental conditions.
- Ken Mackie, IU Distinguished Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences and a Jack and Linda Gill Chair in the Gill Institute for Neuroscience, will work with Guo to develop improved human brain organoid systems. These 3D, lab-grown models that mimic the structure and function of the brain will be used to study drug addiction and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Jason Meyer, the A. Donald Merritt Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics in the IU School of Medicine, will help establish the Indiana University Stem Cell Research Center as a cross-campus hub for stem-cell-based biotechnology, creating the organizational and scientific infrastructure needed to coordinate and amplify IU's strengths in bioengineering, computational sciences and medicine. This hub will provide professional development opportunities and seed support for IU investigators to pursue innovative stem-cell-based biotechnology projects.
- Christine Picard, associate dean for research and graduate education and professor of biology in the IU School of Science at IU Indianapolis, will develop new ways to respond to the growing demand for non-mammalian biomaterials, particularly the need to address critical limitations of traditional collagen sources. She will work with a team of researchers from the School of Science and the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering to explore biomanufacturing through the use of genetically engineered black soldier fly larvae to produce vertebrate-free human collagen in sustainable processes.
"The IU LAB National Security Biotechnology Challenge Grant recognizes that biotechnology innovation is essential to our nation's competitiveness and resilience," IU LAB President and CEO David Rosenberg said. "These outstanding faculty exemplify Indiana University's strength at the intersection of life sciences, engineering and artificial intelligence - pioneering solutions that will shape the future of health and security."
Advancing IU's strategic vision
This program aligns with the bold goals outlined in the IU 2030 strategic plan and the mission of IU LAB, a first-of-its-kind academic-industry initiative positioning Indiana as a global leader in bioscience discovery and innovation. IU LAB connects faculty with industry and government collaborators to drive translational research, commercialization and external funding opportunities, while providing seed funding, infrastructure and strategic support to enhance competitiveness for major grants.
"Through the IU LAB National Security Biotechnology Challenge Grants, we are pulling together IU's top researchers to address issues that are critically important to our nation's security," IU Vice President for Research Russell J. Mumper said. "Our hope is that our interdisciplinary teams will be well-positioned to lead in these emerging fields as opportunities for external funding becomes available."
