Resource Access – BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads’ Role in the Accelerator

As a partner in the inaugural Plug and Play Lifetech Accelerator, BioCrossroads is helping to connect global innovators with Indiana’s robust life sciences ecosystem. Through our network of corporate, academic, and community partners, we are working to ensure that these startups have access to the expertise, resources, and collaborative environment needed to accelerate their growth. Our involvement reflects BioCrossroads’ ongoing commitment to advancing innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and strengthening Indiana’s position as one of the nation’s top life sciences hubs.

Read the full release from Plug and Play:

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Plug and Play, the world’s largest innovation platform, today announced the 12 companies selected for the inaugural batch of its Lifetech accelerator program in Indianapolis.

The cohort draws from a global talent pool and represents startup companies from eight states and three countries. Over the next four months, these founders will collaborate with Plug and Play’s Lifetech partners, including IU LAB, BioCrossroads, IU Health, and Indiana University, to accelerate the future of healthcare and life sciences. The program will culminate with an expo event in February 2026, at which the graduating startups will pitch their solutions to an audience of corporate executives, investors, industry leaders, and the community.

“The IU LAB is proud to partner with Plug and Play, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and IU Health to help grow Indiana’s innovation economy,” said David Rosenberg, President and CEO of the IU LAB. “This partnership reflects our commitment to translating IU’s $1 billion research enterprise, attracting and developing world-class talent, and building the next generation of companies right here in Indiana. Together, we’re strengthening the state’s position as a national hub for life sciences and groundbreaking innovation.”

The selected companies are pioneering advancements across the life sciences spectrum focused on human health. Their innovations include next-generation therapeutics for cancer and chronic diseases, novel drug delivery platforms, non-invasive diagnostics for early disease detection, medical devices, AI-driven medical imaging, and stem-cell-derived organoid development.

The Batch 1 Lifetech startups are:

AGED Diagnostics – AGED Diagnostics is the first accurate blood test for fatty liver disease that affects 1 in 3 Americans.
Amplicore – Amplicore is developing a new class of injectable therapeutics as novel regenerative approaches to treat musculoskeletal disorders.
Amplified Sciences – Amplified Sciences is revolutionizing disease detection with a commercial stage test that helps physicians more accurately detect risk for pancreatic cancer built on their ultra-sensitive optical reporter platform.
Door Pharma – Door Pharma attacks chronic hepatitis B by targeting the viral nucleocapsid protein.
Grannus Therapeutics – Grannus Therapeutics is focused on the development of a novel first-in-class therapeutic for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Intero Biosystems – Intero Biosystems creates stem cell-derived mini organs to predict how drugs behave in humans before clinical trials.
Modella AI – Modella AI is transforming human medicine by shortening the time to diagnosis and informing treatment options for pathologically driven diseases like cancer.
OmniSpirant Therapeutics – OmniSpirant Therapeutics is an Irish biotech developing a disruptive RNA delivery platform technology, “OmniSomes.” This proprietary technology is highly differentiated, utilizing bioengineered Mesenchymal Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as novel non-viral vectors for highly efficient RNA delivery, which uniquely confers additional regenerative medicine properties and benefits.
OsseoLabs – OsseoLabs is a medtech company pioneering AI-driven surgical planning and 3D-printed personalized implants to improve patient outcomes, reduce surgical risks, and bring precision care to hospitals globally.
OsteoCure Therapeutics – OsteoCure Therapeutics is a Duke spinout and JLABS company developing an adenosine platform for treating both fracture repair and osteoporosis.
Scioto Biosciences – Scioto Biosciences is targeting a breakthrough gut-brain therapy designed to help children with autism thrive by supporting early development and lasting progress.
Synch Neuro – SynchNeuro has developed the world’s first brain-based non-invasive glucose monitor.

“This inaugural batch of startups is a testament to the incredible innovation happening in the life sciences,” said Brandon Noll, Director of Plug and Play Indiana. “We’re thrilled to bring these entrepreneurs to Indianapolis, a city with a rich history in the life sciences, where they will directly engage with leading life science experts as well as tap into the robust network of resources available for every phase of their journey through Plug and Play’s global innovation platform. The future of medicine is being shaped right here, and we’re excited to be part of that growth.”

Launched in September 2025, the IU LAB Lifetech Accelerator was created by Plug and Play in collaboration with Indiana University, IU Health, and regional partners to strengthen Indiana’s position as a leader in life sciences innovation. The program supports startups developing breakthroughs in therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and biotechnology through mentorship, investor access, and corporate collaboration.

To learn more about Plug and Play Lifetech, visit: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/industries/lifetech.

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 60+ locations across 25+ industries. We offer corporate innovation programs, helping our partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also run startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies, including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit Plug and Play Tech Center.

Meeting the Moment: Elevating Indiana’s Life Sciences Leadership

Workforce development has paid dividends for Indiana’s life sciences sector. The Hoosier State leads the nation in both pharmaceutical and life sciences exports. The sector employs 70,000 Hoosiers across 3,200 establishments and contributes $99 billion to Indiana’s economy. And the average wage among life sciences professionals – $148,000 – is well ahead of the state’s average.

But when it comes to leadership, there’s no such thing as a finish line. To stay competitive with the likes of Boston and San Diego, workforce development remains a top priority for Indiana’s life sciences ecosystem.

And on June 12, leading professionals and recruiters met to exchange perspectives at the quarterly FrameWORX hosted by BioCrossroads.

Gone are the days when recruiting started in college and job training moved along slowly. Today, employers and employees alike are looking for dynamic, life-changing opportunities right out of the gate. In Indiana, industry visibility starts as early as middle school. Internships with substance and ongoing training and development for professionals are critical parts of the mix.

Zachary Haller, the practice lead who supports lab services and scientific solutions at Actalent, said drivers for people seeking new opportunities are clear.

“Not only is the labor market changing but so are the desires of candidates,” Haller told a capacity crowd at the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute at 16 Tech. “People want to work in meaningful jobs. They don’t want to just work or just get a paycheck. And people want a personalized plan. Not a lot of people are getting those experiences.”

To keep pace, Indiana is looking at next-level platforms. Indiana’s designation as a tech hub means BioTrain will produce job-ready professionals who want careers in biomanufacturing. BioTrain is part of the Heartland BioWorks Tech Hub, a $51 million initiative supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and spearheaded by the Applied Research Institute (ARI) in collaboration with Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College, and BioCrossroads. BioTrain will address the projected labor shortage in Indiana’s biotech industry.

Indiana also is adopting the Swiss apprenticeship model to enhance career readiness among high school students, particularly in the life sciences sector – part of a broader effort to provide students with practical, paid work experiences alongside their education.

“Life sciences and health care often have synergies with people moving back and forth between the sectors,” said Vince Wong, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “We have strategies at different levels: for K-12, for college, and for those already working in the industry. We are developing strategies for all groups to meet people where they are.”

workforce resources

Meet the partners powering Indiana’s life sciences and healthcare workforce

The employers, educators, and organizations featured here are building real pipelines, aligning training with industry demand, creating new pathways into scientific and clinical roles, and helping employers attract and grow the teams they need to compete. Each one offers practical tools, proven approaches, and direct ways to support your talent strategy.

Actalent

Data-driven talent solutions across scientific and clinical roles

Actalent partners with companies to deliver customized workforce solutions, with deep expertise in clinical, scientific, and engineering roles. Their data-informed approach helps employers stay agile in a competitive talent market.
www.actalentservices.com

Ascend Indiana

Matching talent to high-demand roles with personalized career navigation

Ascend Indiana connects employers with qualified talent through a unique blend of one-on-one career guidance and tech-enabled matching tools. Their employer partnerships help streamline hiring pipelines while opening doors to high-demand jobs for Indiana residents.
www.ascendindiana.com

IBRI Internship Program

Hands-on experience in translational research

The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) offers a competitive internship program that provides early-career scientists with exposure to applied, translational research in a collaborative environment. The program supports both student development and employer workforce needs through mentorship and meaningful lab experiences.
www.indianabiosciences.org

IU Health

Creating upward mobility through continuous education
As one of the state’s largest healthcare employers, IU Health invests in its people. Their career development initiatives—from tuition support to pathway programs—help employees build long-term careers while staying responsive to workforce needs across the system.
www.iuhealth.org

Ivy Tech Community College

Industry-aligned training and credentialing programs
With campuses across Indiana, Ivy Tech offers accessible, flexible training that is closely aligned with employer needs—whether it’s credentials in biotech manufacturing, clinical support, or quality systems. Their programs help both new entrants and current employees build in-demand skills.
www.ivytech.edu