Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, has announced a $92.5 million commitment from Eli Lilly and Company to establish a scholarship program and renew research collaboration efforts.

The commitment includes $42.5 million over 10 years to fund pharmaceutical manufacturing scholarships for incoming Purdue undergraduate students. With its first scholarships offered in fall 2023, the Lilly Scholars program will provide priority access to undergraduate students who are underrepresented, have overcome socioeconomic or educational disadvantages, or are among the first generation in their family to attend college. The remaining $50 million will support the expansion of a research collaboration between Lilly and Purdue, launched in 2017. Funding will support the collaboration for an additional five years, with a research focus on genetic medicine, intrathecal delivery, and nanoparticle drug delivery.

“Collaborations between academia and industry are essential to innovation to bring therapies to patients as quickly as possible,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of manufacturing operations at Lilly. “With the expansion of our footprint in Indiana, these initiatives with Purdue will help bring a highly skilled pipeline of diverse talent and enhance our manufacturing capacity to deliver medicines to patients around the world.”

“Lilly is among Purdue’s most important partners, and this latest commitment reaffirms our longtime collaboration. Through these collaborations, Lilly and Purdue are helping to build a critical pharmaceutical ecosystem in the heartland,” said Purdue University president Mitch Daniels. “We have a company that is committed to advancing research and fostering talent. Lilly is investing in students very early in their education, rather than waiting until late in their college careers—connecting to students before they even arrive on campus.”

(Photo credit: Purdue for Life Foundation/Brayden Williams)