The new public-private research institute being launched by Indiana life sciences and government leaders said today it received a $10 million grant from the philanthropic foundation established by members of Eli Lilly’s founding family.

Indiana Biosciences Research Institute said the grant from Lilly Endowment will support charitable, educational, and scientific activities. The grant is part of the $50 million the institute says it will need for initial operations, with the remainder expected to come from industry and philanthropic funds.

The $360 million research institute, officially launched last month, is designed to advance the twin goals of studying metabolic disorders and growing the Hoosier State’s biopharma industry. Eli Lilly—which is separate from the foundation—is among anchors of the nonprofit institute, along with Roche Diagnostics.

Also on board the institute effort are Cook Medical, Dow AgroSciences, Biomet, and Indiana University Health, along with the office of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence; academic institutions that include Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame; and BioCrossroads, a nonprofit that promotes life-sci growth statewide.

“The Institute will foster deep and strategic collaborations among Indiana’s life science companies and research institutions that should increase and enhance the state’s intellectual capital and strengthen its economy,” N. Clay Robbins, Lilly Endowment’s president and CEO, said in a statement.

BioCrossroads, which announced the grant, carries out charitable, educational, and scientific activities through CICP Foundation, the official recipient of the Lilly Endowment funding.

Indiana Biosciences Research Institute will initially focus on four metabolic disorders: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and nutrition. The institute said in the statement its activity is intended to accelerate and focus collaboration across and among the Hoosier State’s academic and commercial research communities by attracting national and international talent “with a proven track record of academic excellence and success in advancing innovation and collaboration with industry partners.”

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