IU, Cook Medical partnership will translate IU research into real-world applications
A new, five-year agreement between Indiana University and Cook Medical will address real-world problems to propel innovation, bolster Indiana’s economy and grow the state’s workforce.
IU’s first Master Collaboration Agreement, which includes all services and campuses, brings together research expertise from IU’s nine campuses and one of the state’s largest employers. The streamlined all-services model is a dynamic partnership where ideas flow both ways between IU and Cook Medical, removing administrative barriers for researchers and schools to collaborate directly with Cook.
“This collaboration will enable IU’s talented faculty to develop and translate cutting-edge research and workforce training into real-world solutions,” IU President Pamela Whitten said. “Partnerships like this are crucial to ensure that as Indiana’s flagship university, IU serves our state’s needs, from meeting workforce demands to driving research and development projects that will propel our society and economy forward.”
This agreement builds on IU’s commitment to streamlining academic-industry collaborations that transform the state. It will ensure widespread coordination across multiple IU schools and disciplines, and the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences — known as IU LAB — will serve as a single point of contact for executing projects through this partnership.
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IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences
IU exceeds $1B in research expenditures for first time, leads state universities in external funding
Indiana University is the state’s higher education research powerhouse, securing more sponsored awards than any other university in Indiana and reaching more than $1 billion in research and development expenditures for the first time in university history. These investments, made in fiscal year 2025, empower faculty and students to pursue breakthroughs that improve Hoosier lives and help the state’s economy, industries and communities.
“Investments in research at Indiana University don’t just fuel innovation; they help us deliver medical breakthroughs, develop workforce pipelines and partner with industry to turn ideas into impact,” IU President Pamela Whitten said.
IU’s research and development expenditures have increased more than 34% since fiscal year 2021. The university also received $942.2 million in sponsored awards in fiscal year 2025. Guided by the IU 2030 strategic plan, IU is focused on transformative research and creative activity that will drive positive economic and societal outcomes in Indiana.
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IU 2030 Strategic Plan
State Update
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education unanimously voted on August 20 for Indiana Secretary of Education, Dr. Katie Jenner, to become the next Commissioner for Higher Education, effective October 11. Dr. Jenner succeeds Commissioner Chris Lowery, who has led the Commission since 2022. Commissioner Lowery announced in July that he would be stepping away from the role on October 10.
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Federal Update
This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional and Executive Branch activities of interest in Washington, D.C.
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Previous Federal Reports
Economic Engagement Update
New Female Sports Performance and Research Initiative to fill critical gaps in women’s sports science
Indiana University, in collaboration with Indiana Sports Corp and Pacers Sports & Entertainment, will launch a first-of-its-kind research program dedicated to the health, performance and lifelong well-being of female athletes. The Female Sports Performance and Research Initiative, announced to coincide with TEDSports Indianapolis, aims to fill a critical gap in sports science: the limited focus on female athletes in performance and health research.
This initiative builds on momentum from a convening hosted earlier this year by the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, IU researchers, Indiana Sports Corp and other industry partners. It marks a major step in further establishing Indiana, and Indianapolis specifically, as the nation’s epicenter for women’s sports research, innovation and policy leadership.
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Business Plus Program helps Kelley School student shape her startup
An Indiana University Kelley School of Business Indianapolis student is gaining the confidence to take her startup from idea to product, thanks to her experience with the newly formed Business Plus Program.
During summer 2025, Brie Dillman worked exclusively on her company at The Mill in Bloomington, Ind. She is one of several Kelley students who participated in this year’s Startup Summer program, an accelerator program sponsored by IU Innovates.
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Robotics and sports media degrees approved to meet evolving industry demands
The Indiana University Board of Trustees approved two new undergraduate degrees at IU Bloomington during its September meeting, including one that aligns with a commitment to expand engineering academic programs. The approved degrees are a Bachelor of Science in robotics and a Bachelor of Science in sports media. The new degrees await final approval from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
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IU in the News
Enrollment growth for IU: Record Bloomington class, strong momentum for Indy, regionals, online
Indiana University celebrates record-breaking enrollment numbers across the state this fall with a total of 25,308 new undergraduate and graduate students. IU Online also reached a milestone by crossing the 10,000-student threshold for the first time, with 10,385 students enrolled.
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Hoosier students find affordable, accessible educational opportunities at IU
Prospective university students often look for the perfect blend of challenging academic opportunities and programs that support their experience in an affordable, accessible package. For three incoming students, Indiana University offered everything they were looking for.
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Trustees elect officers, swear in new members
The IU Board of Trustees elected Dr. David Hormuth as its new chair and Marilee Springer as vice chair during its Sept. 11 meeting. Hormuth, Springer and student Isaac White were appointed as the three newest members of the IU Board of Trustees on July 1 by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun. They were sworn in at the trustees meeting.
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Novel system for testing AI tools in education developed by IU and Instructure
The National Science Foundation has awarded Indiana University and a leading educational technology company, Instructure, a planning grant to develop TOPSAIL – Testing Outcomes Privately and Securely for Artificial Intelligence in Learning – a groundbreaking testbed for research on the educational effectiveness of AI learning technologies.
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