Genomics grant to enhance healthcare

School of Medicine Dean D. Craig Brater, M.D., outlined Tuesday the impact of an $105 million grant the Indiana Genomics Initiative received in January from the Lilly Endowment.\nThe grant -- which will be used for genomics research -- is designed to bring better healthcare to Indiana and should have a strong economic impact on the state. \nIt is the largest grant ever received by the University. \n"This project needs to be an engine for economic growth as well as an engine for educational growth," Brater, INGEN's primary architect, told Bloomington Rotary Club Members in the Frangipani Room of the Indiana Memorial Union Tuesday. "We are enormously grateful that we have an endowment that is capable of this."\nAlthough the grant will primarily affect the School of Medicine and Information Technology Services, Indiana's economy will receive a boost. \nAt least 500 new jobs will be created in Indiana, including 74 new research positions at IU, according to INGEN's Web site, www.ingen.iu.edu.\nThe funds are geared to help researchers decipher the human genetic code. Genomics research might help unravel the mysteries behind common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimers. \nThrough the research, doctors can gain the information to more effectively diagnose, treat and prevent those diseases. \nOpportunities to collaborate on research will be available in life science departments on both the Bloomington and IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis campuses. The other seven medical science programs that are associated with the School of Medicine's basic medical science program will also be in collaboration. \nPartnerships with other Indiana businesses are also expected to form. \nThe funds will strengthen research through the purchase of new equipment. The money will not be used for the construction of new buildings. Instead, IU will renovate and expand existing labs and research facilities to allow for more space. \n"Our biggest challenge is to come up with space, about 500,000 square feet of laboratory space," Brater said. \nThe School of Medicine has set a goal to become one of the nation's top 10 public medical schools. The school is ranked 15th among public medical schools and 6th in the Big Ten, based on the amount of research money it receives from the National Institutes of Health. \nNIH funding is the main method used to rank medical schools. A lack of space is the school's major challenge in netting more NIH dollars, thus boosting its ranking, according to a letter signed by Eric B. Schoch, director of Consumer Health Communications at the School of Medicine at IUPUI. \nIn addition to bringing $105 million to IU, the Lilly endowment should also help generate more funding for the University. \n"The grant is a phenomenal grant to get things going," Keith Brown, president of the Bloomington Rotary Club said after the presentation. "I think it's one of the most important things that could be happening for the IU School of Medicine, and Bloomington. It will reflect on the entire state of Indiana"