State legislature funds research and buildings

THE 21ST CENTURY RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY FUND was unanimously passed in both chambers of the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Frank O'Bannon this spring. The fund establishes a two-year, $50 million grant program for Indiana researchers in biomedical, biotechnology and other high technology areas. The initiative intends to leverage federal and private foundation dollars, attract new jobs, provide new start-up companies and enhance Indiana's work force with new jobs in the research and technology sectors.

Dean Robert W. Holden, MD, and IU earned recognition from the Indiana Health Industry Forum which sponsored the bill stating, "Indiana University has been a major catalyst in making the case that research-driven economic development will lead to great economic benefits for the state. President Myles Brand, Chancellor Gerald Bepko, Dean Robert Holden and their teams are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to this initiative."

IUSM also benefits from new funding through 1999-2001 IU capital appropriations legislative funding that will make possible the second phase of construction on the John D. VanNuys Medical Science Building and construction on the regional medical education campuses in Terre Haute, Gary (the Northwest Center) and South Bend.