INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana University has named Jim Lancaster the CEO and principal investigator of the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana, a major statewide initiative that will build a regional innovation ecosystem by connecting expertise across Indiana's orthopedic community and accelerating the translation of research into real-world impact.
The IU-led coalition is made up of more than 170 Indiana industry, clinical and university collaborators. It will receive up to $160 million over 10 years from the National Science Foundation to turn research into real-world solutions related to the care and treatment of musculoskeletal health conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis, and acute and interventional needs such as bone fractures and traumatic injuries.
Lancaster comes to IU after more than three decades working in the orthopedics industry. As a former executive of Zimmer Biomet and a thought leader in orthopedic innovation, Lancaster led product development, global reconstruction and platform technology initiatives.
"Under Jim's leadership, the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana will accelerate promising innovations from discovery to real-world impact," said Russell Mumper, vice president for research at Indiana University. "Jim brings the vision, experience and collaborative leadership needed to unite researchers, clinicians, key university and industry partners, and communities around our ambitious goal: translating Indiana's exceptional strengths in musculoskeletal health into new treatments, technologies, companies and careers."
The NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana is dedicated to transforming the state into a global leader in musculoskeletal health technologies by bridging critical gaps in innovation infrastructure, workforce development and cross-sector collaboration. As CEO, Lancaster will be responsible for the initiatives' overall success: directing its strategic vision, daily operations and integrated activities across the state's orthopedic ecosystem.
"I'm honored to officially join the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana as CEO and to build on the extraordinary foundation this team has already built," Lancaster said. "Indiana brings together a rare combination of world-class research, clinical expertise, advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurial talent. I'm excited to help turn this ambitious vision into measurable impact by aligning those strengths around a shared mission."
Established through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program represents one of the nation's largest investments in place-based innovation. The coalition aspires to train over 1,900 workers, launch over 85 startups, bring at least 30 innovations to market and deliver more than $535 million in economic impact to the state.
In addition to Lancaster, the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana is led by chief scientific officer Melissa Kacena, director of the IU School of Medicine's Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health; chief technology and innovation officer Amrou Awaysheh, of the IU Kelley School of Business; and chief learning officer Jill Fehrenbacher, of the IU School of Medicine.
