INDIANAPOLIS & WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—Eli Lilly and Co. and Purdue University recently announced a strategic collaboration to conduct life-sciences research. The five-year agreement, under which Lilly will provide up to $52 million, marks Purdue’s largest strategic collaboration with a single company.
“Purdue has enjoyed a long history of engagement with Lilly. Now Lilly and Purdue University are entering into a new level of collaboration that will move us forward in areas core to both institutions,” said Purdue President Mitch Daniels. “Our investment on campus in the life sciences announced in 2016 is leading to just the types of impact we hoped to effect.”
“The biomedical revolution is upon us, but harnessing its full potential will require strong collaboration between academic research centers and industry partners,” said David Ricks, Lilly’s chairman, president and CEO. “We look forward to expanding our relationship with Purdue as we work together to discover breakthrough solutions for patients.”
The initial research focus areas include:
- Developing improved delivery of injectable medicines with the goals of reducing pain, decreasing the number of injections and enabling better patient compliance and overall health.
- Developing predictive models for clinical success that reduce risks associated with investing in drug development and more effectively predict the outcome of new therapies in humans.
The collaboration envisions expansion to other areas to further utilize the range of expertise at the two institutions. Purdue researchers from the natural and physical sciences, engineering and veterinary medicine will contribute to the interdisciplinary collaboration with Lilly researchers.
“This strategic agreement links our two organizations in a commitment to scientific research supporting the global needs of patients,” said Dr. Andrew Dahlem, vice president and chief operating officer of Lilly Research Laboratories. “In addition, our collaboration strengthens our shared commitment to attract and retain the top engineering and technology talent in Indiana.”
