Leading the way in neurosciences research

Nothing is more invigorating and inspiring at Indiana University than touring the spaces where some of the world’s most transformative teaching and research takes place.

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the renowned Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at the IU School of Medicine. The institute is ground zero for the leading role IU plays locally and globally to shape new treatments for devastating disorders of the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as addiction, glaucoma, spinal cord and brain injuries, chronic pain, and psychiatric disorders. 

While there, I met with IU Distinguished Professor and renowned neuroscientist Bruce Lamb, who directs the institute and has been a pioneer in his advocacy for federal funding of research into Alzheimer’s disease. 

Nationally, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, a number that is projected to more than double by 2050 to nearly 13 million. In Indiana, roughly 110,000 people age 65 and older are living with the disease. 

For more than two decades, the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute has brought together the brightest scientific minds from across IU to study diseases of neuroscience and develop novel therapeutics to treat these diseases, including some of the first FDA-approved treatments that are now on the market. 

During our conversation, Dr. Lamb and I talked about the mission and strengths of the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute. We also discussed the institute’s impact-generating partnerships with Indiana’s leading life sciences organizations, including Eli Lilly and Company, Roche, and the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, which are dramatically enhancing the impact of IU’s neurosciences research across our state, nation, and world. 

Finally, we talked about the truly extraordinary impact the institute has on our students, who are, to borrow from Dr. Lamb, “blossoming” in front of our eyes as they prepare to become future leaders in the exploration and understanding of the nervous system. 

The work happening at the institute is improving and saving lives. From its transformational research to its role in creating the next generation of scientists and researchers, the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute sets IU apart as a powerful engine of progress and a beacon of innovation and discovery.  

Pamela Whitten

President
Indiana University