Industry Partnerships

IU LAB: Accelerating Industry Partnership at Scale

Launched in December 2024 with a transformative $138 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB) represents a bold expansion of Indiana University’s long-standing commitment to innovation in health and biosciences. From its inception, IU LAB has been positioned as IU’s gateway for industry engagement and designed to facilitate critical academic-industry partnerships and innovative initiatives. Through IU LAB, Indiana University is building a highly coordinated, comprehensive “All Services” model that integrates capabilities across all nine campuses. These services span the full spectrum of partnership needs, including:

  • Research and sponsored programs
  • Research support services
  • Clinical trials infrastructure
  • Credentialing
  • Talent and workforce development
  • Professional education and consulting

This integrated approach positions IU as a single, strategic partner capable of delivering end-to-end solutions - from discovery through workforce deployment.

Cook Medical Partnership

In August 2025, Indiana University and Cook Medical entered into a five-year Master Collaboration Agreement designed to accelerate innovation, research, and workforce development across all nine IU campuses. This comprehensive “all-services” agreement streamlines collaboration by reducing administrative barriers related to intellectual property, confidentiality, and licensing. By simplifying these processes, IU and Cook Medical can focus on what matters most: advancing research, developing talent, and bringing new medical solutions to patients more efficiently.

Cook Group President Pete Yonkman and IU President Pamela S. Whitten sign the five-year Master Collaboration Agreement while other IU and Cook officials look on.  Photo by James Brosher, Indiana University