Indianapolis, Oct. 6, 2022 – Today, BioCrossroads released a new report from TEConomy that follows the impact of BioCrossroads and Indiana’s life sciences sector over the last two decades — BioCrossroads and the Indiana Life Sciences Ecosystem: Tracking Two Decades of Progress and Charting a Path for Sustained Success. The study highlights statistics that include the life sciences sector’s outperformance of Indiana’s economy since 2001 and outsized portion of total new jobs in the state over the past two decades.

The report points out that “over the course of the next decade, it is expected that the life sciences will remain a key strategic driver of economic development in Indiana.”

Although the life sciences represented just over 2% of the state’s total jobs in 2020, they contributed 23.7% net new jobs from 2001 to 2020. Of the nearly 50,000 new jobs created in Indiana from 2001 to 2020, 12,000 were added in life sciences.

“BioCrossroads’ emphasis on enhancing the sector through collaborative initiatives, capital, talent, and awareness has uncovered unique opportunities over the last twenty years,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “However, Indiana must be vigilant in maintaining the competitive edge of its life sciences ecosystem. We must remain responsive to changes in the environment that are critical for Indiana’s long-term economic competitiveness.”

Other Key Statistics:

University-related Statistics:

Healthcare and Life Sciences Regional Data

Over the last three months, BioCrossroads has released reports on the healthcare and life sciences sector that target six regions of Indiana*, including Northern (South Bend-Elkhart), Northeast, Central, Wabash Heartland (Lafayette-West Lafayette), Upland (Bloomington), and Southwest. In addition, one report, focuses on the entire state and determined that the sector accounts for one in every ten jobs, provides an annual economic impact of $150 billion and is present in the substantial assets spanning the corporate, university and philanthropic sectors.

You can view all of the reports at https://crossroadshealthventures.com/news-reports/

About BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads (www.crossroadshealthventures.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow, advance and invest in

the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads invests capital and provides support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, 16 Tech, Indiana Health Information Exchange, and OrthoWorx ), expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.

 

*based on the most recent numbers available

Nora Doherty Recognized as 2022 Watanabe Life Sciences Champion for Strategic and Meaningful Impact on Indiana’s Life Sciences Industry

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 22, 2022) — BioCrossroads’ Board of Directors today named former executive vice president of strategy of BioCrossroads and managing director of the Indiana Seed Funds, Nora Doherty, as the recipient of the 2022 August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award. The prestigious honor, named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, was given to Doherty at today’s Indiana Life Sciences Summit and 20th Anniversary CELLebration.

Some of Doherty’s most significant achievements included developing a market for Indiana’s life sciences start-ups, including forming and managing funding mechanisms, engaging with universities and start-ups, and organizing new enterprises.

Recognizing the need for early stage or seed stage capital, BioCrossroads, began a Seed Fund program in 2005, with Doherty as Manager; followed by Fund II in 2012; and Fund III in 2018. These three Indiana Seed Funds, totaling $24.25 million, have invested in 32 life sciences start-ups since 2006. Those companies have gone on to raise an additional $796 million, more than 33 times BioCrossroads’ initial investment. In addition to returns to investors, the Funds have succeeded in unlocking considerable new (and lasting) entrepreneurial activity and talent, spurred the participation of significant additional investors and forged invaluable relationships with Indiana’s research universities, the State of Indiana and national venture capital firms.

In addition, Doherty has guided dozens of start-up companies with her advice, wisdom, and connections. She has also served on advisory committees for the Indiana Future Fund ($73M), INext ($58M), and Next Level Fund ($250M).

“Nora’s work with start-ups encouraged deep relationships with our research institutions, especially Indiana and Purdue universities, bringing some of their innovations to market. It has also led to productive collaborations between industry and academia,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “She is incredibly well regarded by many of the leading scientists and start-up CEOs in the state, as well as venture capital fund managers across the country. She was instrumental in putting Indiana’s life sciences entrepreneurial ecosystem on the map.”

In addition to BioCrossroads’ capital strategy, Doherty’s strategic insight over two decades has driven a number of successful research projects that helped identify a collective response to a changing environment, including the launch of the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (2012) and activation of 16 Tech (2015).

Doherty’s impact is evident through the management of a research report that turned into an actionable and impactful project — Analytix Indiana. She conceptualized and facilitated the 2020 TEConomy Partners study titled Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics in Indiana: An Initial Discussion of Industry Needs and University Capabilities. This study supported the creation of Analytix Indiana, an initiative to support the recruitment of academic talent, foster corporate and academic collaboration, create significant data assets to support both life sciences and advanced manufacturing, and establish an Indianapolis-based common place for university and industry engagement at the 16 Tech Innovation District.

Doherty has always had a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Prior to her work at BioCrossroads, she was a co-founder, vice president of operations and vice president legal, human resources and administration, and corporate secretary with Indianapolis-based Escient Technologies.

“It is difficult, if not impossible, to capture the full impact of Nora’s initiative, intellect and leadership on Indiana’s life sciences sector,” remarked Martin. “She has tirelessly, often from behind the scenes, ensured that ideas were activated and results achieved.”

Previous August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners include:

INDIANAPOLIS, (March 25, 2022) — Indiana’s vibrant and diverse life sciences industry continues to make a significant impact on the state, contributing more than $79 billion in economic impact in 2021. A record amount of venture capital was raised by Indiana start-ups for the second straight year – increasing from $262 million in 2020 to $434 million in 2021. In addition, the value of exports per worker grew by almost $25,000 – from $192,000 in 2020 to nearly $217,000 in 2021.

BioCrossroads today unveiled its latest economic statistics for Indiana’s life sciences, provided by Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Other key indicators and statistics for 2021 include:

  • More than $12.7 billion of products were exported from the state, the highest amount ever recorded. Indiana has the third highest amount of exports in the U.S.
  • The economic impact of the state’s life sciences industry was $79 billion, driven by 2,452 companies, an increase of 170 companies since last year. 58,928 people are employed across the pharmaceutical, medical device/equipment, agbiosciences, research, testing/medical laboratories, and biologistics companies.
  • Eight hundred ninety-nine patents were granted and 61 new products were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  • The average wage for the life sciences sector increased to nearly $106,000 per worker, more than double the state’s average wage, delivering a total payroll of $6.2 billion to the state.
  • Twenty-three companies committed to invest over $500 million and hire 2,100 employees, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

“Venture firms from across the country are finding great science and leadership here in Indiana, and are supporting it by investing in our most promising start-ups,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “In addition, the state’s exports and output per worker jumped considerably over the last year.

“Investment and productivity are two of the best indicators of a strong economy, and Indiana’s life sciences industry continues to punch above its weight,” said Patricia Martin, president and CEO of BioCrossroads.

Indiana is home to the global headquarters for: Cook Medical, Corteva Agriscience, Elanco Animal Health, Elevance Health, Eli Lilly and Co. and Zimmer Biomet, and the North American headquarters of Roche Diagnostics. Baxter, Beckman Coulter, Boston Scientific, Catalent, LabCorp, Mead Johnson/ Reckitt Benckiser, and Medtronic all host major operations in the state. In addition, the state has one of the largest and most prominent groups of contract development and manufacturing organizations in the U.S. with companies such as Azenta Life Sciences, Evonik, Exelead, and Inotiv.

About BioCrossroads
BioCrossroads (www.crossroadshealthventures.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads provides money and support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises, expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, expands science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry. The initiative has formed several new nonprofit organizations, including Indiana Health Information Exchange, BioCrossroadsLINX, OrthoWorx, Datalys Center and the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute.

This data, generated by the Indiana Business Research Center at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and BioCrossroads, are the most recent available.

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 14, 2022) ̶ Back in the early 2000’s no one had a doubt that Indiana was home to world-class life sciences assets, but the community was missing the opportunity to collectively advance its strengths. A coalition of organizations and business leaders decided to ensure that Central Indiana and the entire state, took advantage of the sector. With a more than 100-year legacy of life sciences with companies including Eli Lilly and Company, Roche Diagnostics, Cook Medical and Zimmer Biomet; a significant number of contract research and manufacturing organizations; an emerging start-up community; and three research universities, there was a lot to be gained by having the sector work collaboratively.

On February 13, 2002, these stakeholders officially established the Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative (CILSI), which would ultimately become BioCrossroads. The goal of the group—managed by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), with participation from the office of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, Indiana University, Purdue University, Eli Lilly and Company, and the Indiana Health Industry Forum — was to create an intentional, collaborative life sciences network.

Today, 20 years later, the result is a vibrant and unique life sciences community that has increased its economic impact to the state by nearly $50 billion from $32 billion in 2002 to $80 billion in 2022.

Throughout those two decades, BioCrossroads has encouraged growth within Indiana’s life sciences industry through both direct and indirect activities that have advanced Indiana’s standing as a national life sciences leader.

The organization has:

BioCrossroads has also been recognized by national organizations including the Brookings Institution and TEConomy Partners for collaborative and innovative efforts to advance and promote the Indiana’s life sciences industry.

According to authors Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak in The New Localism – How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism, “We were particularly enamored of CICP’s BioCrossroads, an effort to steer hundreds of millions of private and civic resources towards recruiting talented researchers, building world-class centers of excellence, investing in STEM education in elementary and secondary schools, giving start-up and scale-up companies access to risk capital and developing quality places.”

“The magic combination of Indiana’s depth and breadth of life sciences resources together with BioCrossroads’ focus on catalyzing industry collaboration, creating sources of capital and establishing unique sector assets, including 16 Tech and the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, has delivered remarkable results,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “What’s most impressive, though, has been and continues to be the collaboration of people from our founders to our funders to the greater life sciences community who have helped us achieve some impressive goals and have moved the sector to an enviable position.”

About BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads (www.crossroadshealthventures.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads invests capital and provides support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, 16 Tech, Indiana Health Information Exchange, and OrthoWorx), expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 27, 2021) — For nearly 20 years, BioCrossroads has demonstrated a track record of organizing, developing and managing seed-stage and venture capital funds for Indiana-based life sciences start-ups. BioCrossroads’ three Indiana Seed Funds, totaling $24.25 million, have invested in 32 life sciences start-ups since 2006. Those companies have gone on to raise an additional $796 million, more than 33 times BioCrossroads’ initial investment.

A new report: Supporting Life Sciences: A look back at BioCrossroads’ capital strategy details the investment results of these three investment funds that have provided important capital to Indiana’s life sciences start-ups over the last 15 years. The analysis looks at the impact of BioCrossroads’ capital strategy, which includes the development of:

The report also provides examples of funded start-up companies that went on to be acquired by large life sciences corporations. For example, BioLife Solutions acquired Sexton Biotechnologies, a 2019 spin out from Cook Regentech, for $30 million in September. In 2013, Novo Nordisk acquired two companies, Calibrium and MB2, and opened an Indianapolis-based Research Center.

“BioCrossroads’ Seed Funds have fueled Indiana early-stage companies resulting in significant follow-on investments. Results from this capital strategy are bolstering the life sciences industry, which is already a significant contributor to Indiana’s economy,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO, BioCrossroads.

Additionally, BioCrossroads helped organize three fund-of-funds, the $73 million Indiana Future Fund (IFF) in 2003, the $58 million INext Fund in 2008, as well as the State of Indiana’s $250 million Next Level Fund. These funds have invested in more than 19 Indiana companies to date. Those companies have raised in excess of $1.2 billion, and several have proceeded to successful exit transactions totaling in excess of $3.5 billon. For example, Endocyte, one of the first companies funded by IFF, was acquired by Novartis in 2018 for $2.1 billion. Novartis built a $70 million facility in Indianapolis.

Arteaus was founded in 2011 to out-license an early-stage migraine drug discovered by Eli Lilly and Company. The medicine, now on the market with the trade name Emgality, was re-acquired by Eli Lilly in 2014 and generated sales of $362.9 million in 2020 up from $162.5 million in 2019.

“BioCrossroads has been fortunate to participate in the growth of Indiana’s life sciences sector working to connect capital with innovators from our research universities and corporate community alongside our partners at the State of Indiana and financial institutions who are making early-stage investments,” said BioCrossroads’ Seed Fund Nora Doherty. “We are beginning to see a generational impact as innovators move to follow-on opportunities.”

“It’s so important to have experienced talent involved in Indiana life sciences start-ups,” said Kristin Sherman, CEO of Kovina Therapeutics who received funding from Indiana Seed Fund III. “Many company executives who received funding from Indiana fund-of-funds or the BioCrossroads’ Seed Funds have moved on to create and lead new ventures. The ripple effect of these funds is already building the next generation of entrepreneurial companies and talent.” Sherman was the CFO of Calibrium when they received an investment from Indiana Seed Fund II in 2012.

The report is available on the BioCrossroads web site.

About BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads (www.crossroadshealthventures.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads invests capital and provides support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, 16 Tech, Indiana Health Information Exchange, and OrthoWorx ), expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.

Indianapolis, July 7, 2020 – Indiana’s industry, government, health systems, academia, and digital health startups have tremendous data and technology resources which are driving transformative healthcare and life sciences work locally and globally. To capture all of those assets in a one-stop spot, BioCrossroads today published its Book of Data and Organizations, a directory of Indiana enterprises in the health-data intersection.

The directory includes snapshots of ten organizations who control data assets – data sets, data talent, and/or data technology. The organization profiles answer:

  • Who has what data? How can this data be accessed?
  • Where does the data analysis talent reside?
  • What data technologies and capabilities exist?
  • What are the key projects currently in process?
  • What are the future projects and opportunities for engagement?

“Indiana has valuable and innovative life sciences and healthcare data initiatives and organizations that we’re highlighting through this endeavor,” said Darshan Shah, chief data officer, BioCrossroads. “Ideally, this resource reduces the need to seek health data assets outside of the state, to establish more ideal partnerships locally, and to attract outside organizations to collaborate with Indiana-based organizations.”

The Book will be continually expanded and updated both in number of organizations represented as well as depth of information for each organization. It will also grow to describe cross-organizational initiatives where partnerships are critical to success. Additional organizations and initiatives will be added on a rolling basis.

The Book of Data and Organizations is available at www.crossroadshealthventures.com.

About BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads (www.crossroadshealthventures.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, supporting the region’s existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads invests capital and provides support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, 16 Tech, Indiana Health Information Exchange, BioCrossroadsLINX, OrthoWorx and Datalys Center), expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.

 

BioCrossroads Awards Dr. Clem J. McDonald 2019 Life Sciences Champion of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Sep. 26, 2019 — Today at the Indiana Life Sciences Summit, BioCrossroads’ Board of Directors named Dr. Clem J. McDonald recipient of the 2019 August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award. The prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, was given to Dr. McDonald for his unprecedented impact on health IT and digital health in Indiana and abroad.

Previously a distinguished professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine and director of the Regenstrief Institute for Health Care, Dr. McDonald is known as the “grandfather of EMR” after developing one of the nation’s first electronic medical record systems and the first community-wide clinical data repository, the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC), which enables the Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE).  The INPC has widely contributed to clinical trials research and patient health as well as epidemiologic studies, including the discovery of the association between an antibiotic given to newborns and the development of a digestive issue and the severity and mapping of flu outbreaks.

He was one of the founders of the Health Level 7 (HL7) message standards, used in all hospitals today, and also developed the Logical Observation Identifier Names and Codes (LOINC) database of more than 80,000 universal codes for clinical observations, including laboratory tests, clinical measurements and physician reports. It is used in 172 countries and is available in Chinese, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish in addition to English.

Today, Dr. McDonald is Chief Health Data Standards Officer, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, where he collaborates in numerous efforts to facilitate industry adoption of standard vocabularies in EMR and public health reporting, as required by meaningful use regulations.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development of Indiana’s life sciences and healthcare research, clinical, educational or economic advancement.

“Dr. McDonald’s impact on health IT and digital health has not only greatly impacted the healthcare delivery system for Hoosiers, but has improved the way we deliver healthcare to patients in every hospital in the country today,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO, BioCrossroads.

Dr. McDonald joins an impressive list of previous Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners, including:

“I am honored and touched to receive this award named for Gus Watanabe, who was a great leader and scientist at Indiana University School of Medicine and at Eli Lilly.  He was also my boss, mentor and dear friend,” said McDonald. “I am also honored to be in the company of previous award winners who had such strong impacts on our state of Indiana.”

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Oct. 10, 2018 — BioCrossroads Board of Directors named esteemed researcher, educator and entrepreneur Anantha Shekhar, M.D., Ph.D., executive associate dean for research affairs at the Indiana University School of Medicine, recipient of the 2018 August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, at today’s Indiana Life Sciences Summit.

Dr. Shekhar serves in several leadership roles at IU and IU Health. As Distinguished Professor and Associate Vice President of Research and Clinical Affairs for IU, leader of the high profile IU Precision Health Grand Challenge, and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs for Clinical Research at IU Health, Dr. Shekhar elevates and integrates research across the state’s largest university and its partner healthcare system.

Under Dr. Shekhar’s leadership, IU School of Medicine’s total research funding has surged to $339 million, which includes a 33 percent increase in highly competitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. He is the founding director of the nationally recognized Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, a results-driven partnership among IU, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame, created to improve health in Indiana through research. He also serves on the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Advisory Council and the Cures Acceleration Network Review Board.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development of Indiana’s life sciences and healthcare research, clinical, educational or economic advancement.

“Dr. Shekhar is unique in the scope and scale of his impact on Indiana’s healthcare, life sciences, and academic community as a catalyst, collaborator and contributor. There is no one, anywhere, who is better at understanding the rigors of academic research, the requirements for success in university-industry partnerships, and the imperatives of better care for patients than Anantha Shekhar—he has and does it all,” said David L. Johnson, president and CEO, BioCrossroads. “As a result, Anantha has put IU School of Medicine—and the entire State of Indiana—in an enviable position of collaborative leadership on the national research map through his tremendous efforts.  Along the way, he’s also found the opportunity to be the scientific founder or sponsor of some of our most promising next-generation life sciences companies.”

His start-up company, Anagin, is developing treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, neuropathic pain, depression, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.  Anagin has raised more than $7.5 million and has several molecules in various stages of development.

Dr. Shekhar joins an impressive list of previous Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners, including:

About BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads (www.crossroadshealthventures.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development.  BioCrossroads provides money and support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indiana Health Information Exchange, Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, BioCrossroadsLINX, OrthoWorx and Datalys Center), expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.

Public Health Advocate Dr. Virginia Caine Honored as Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Oct. 10, 2017 — BioCrossroads Board of Directors named Marion County Public Health Department Director Virginia A. Caine, M.D., the 2017 recipient of the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, at today’s Indiana Life Sciences Summit.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development of Indiana’s life sciences and healthcare research, clinical, educational or economic advancement.

Dr. Caine is an ardent voice for public health and access to medical care for the disadvantaged.  She sits at many tables  —  at the local, state and national levels to advocate and encourage policy that will better healthcare, including serving on committees for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  In 2004, she served as president of the American Public Health Association, the nation’s oldest and largest public health organization.

In addition to her role as director of the Marion County Public Health Department, Dr. Caine is also an Associate Professor of Medicine for the Infectious Disease division of the Indiana University School of Medicine.

“Dr. Caine is a convener and a catalyst and a center of constructive activity.  Leading by example and advocacy, she has been driving to build a better, fairer and more inclusive healthcare sector and policies for our region over the entire time that BioCrossroads has been seeking to do the same — pushing our state, our industry and our providers to do more to improve healthcare for our citizens,” said David. L. Johnson, president and CEO of BioCrossroads.  “Her outreach and influence have ripple effects and are felt not only in Indiana, but in her work at the national level.”

Dr. Caine’s vision and energy is focused on making Marion County one of the healthiest communities in the country, with significant attention to underserved populations. She established the first countywide HIV/AIDS integrated health care delivery system involving major hospitals, community health centers, and social service agencies; and the first HIV dental clinic. As co-director of the Indianapolis Healthy Babies Initiative, Dr. Caine worked with community leaders to reduce a record level black infant mortality rate to its lowest level ever in the history of the city.

Among her numerous leadership positions in the community, Dr. Caine has served on the Fairbanks Institute (Life Sciences) Board of Directors, the Indiana State Department of Health women’s advisory committee, the national advisory committee for the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, co-chair of Jump IN for Healthy Kids, chair of the MESH Coalition, member of the Indiana Health Information Exchange, Inc. Board of Directors, and chair of the Indiana University School of Medicine Simon Cancer Center Health Disparities Advisory Committee. Nationally, she serves on the National Biodefense Science Board, and CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Editorial Board.

“A challenge of any community is to understand how population health is tied very closely to its current and future success,” said Dr. Caine. “By researching the issues and offering programs that meet public health needs, we strive to have a positive impact and help our residents achieve a better quality of life. I am humbled by this honor and appreciate the tremendous community support of our public health efforts in Marion County.”

Dr. Caine joins an impressive list of previous Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners, including:

Agbiosciences Innovator John Swisher Honored as Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Oct. 5, 2016 — BioCrossroads Board of Directors named John Swisher, founder of JBS United, the 2016 winner of the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, a prestigious honor named in tribute to BioCrossroads’ late Chairman August Watanabe, at today’s Indiana Life Sciences Summit.

BioCrossroads presents the Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has made or enabled unique achievements in the development and promotion of Indiana’s life sciences research, educational or economic advancement.

JBS United, originally focused on swine research and pork production economics, has developed the largest swine nutrition research farm system in the U.S.’s animal nutrition industry. Swisher’s keen sense for emerging market trends and investment in research led to the creation of a system that would solve complex nutrition and production challenges for large pork producers across Indiana, the United States and around the world. Since founding JBS United in 1956, Swisher has cultivated a culture of innovation that over the years has transformed the way commercial pork producers do business and also revolutionized the industry. Some of his achievements include engagement in international joint ventures, investment in leading agtech companies, and donating much needed protein for underserved Indiana communities.

Over the last 20 years, JBS United has transitioned to a biotech-oriented nutrition company, which has developed FDA approved next-generation feed enzymes that have garnered high global market share for swine and poultry feeds.

“Ag-focused technologies form a leading component of Indiana’s diverse life sciences industry, and over the past 60 years, John Swisher has become an international icon for what it means to be a reputable, effective and visionary agbiosciences entrepreneur,” said David L. Johnson, President and CEO of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and BioCrossroads. “He truly understands the importance of investing in the best people, research, and technology to spur innovation.”

Today, JBS United’s areas of expertise lie in research-based animal nutrition products, biotechnology applications in feed enzymes and microbials, livestock production, animal health products for swine reproductive efficiency and web-based data management systems for traceability applications in livestock production. Led by Swisher, more than 300 employees work together to develop some of the most extensive swine research facilities and capabilities in the world.

Currently, JBS United has 17 technology research centers and 18 production scale research facilities.

“John Swisher is undeniably a life sciences champion,” said Beth Bechdol, President and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana, a state initiative focused on the agbiosciences sector. “His innovative approach to research and business has not only revolutionized agricultural production practices, but has more importantly led to technologies and solutions that help address our collective challenge of producing more food with fewer resources.”

Previous Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year award winners include: