The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) will host the inaugural 2026 IBRI Global Forum on Science, Philanthropy, and Investment on October 29, 2026, at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The forum will convene leaders from across scientific research, philanthropy, investment, and innovation to examine how their combined strengths can accelerate translational medicine and drug development, from early discovery to treatments that reach patients.
Turning Breakthrough Science Into Medicines
The forum is designed as a catalyst for collaboration around one of the most complex challenges in life sciences: translating breakthrough research into therapies that improve health outcomes worldwide.
Through a keynote address and moderated panel discussion, internationally recognized experts will explore how aligned funding, rigorous science, and strategic investment can help shorten development timelines, reduce risk, and expand the impact of biomedical innovation.
The event will take place from 8:00 am to 10:00 am and will provide an opportunity for participants to engage with leaders working across different stages of the translational research and drug-development ecosystem.
Nobel Laureate William G. Kaelin, Jr. to Deliver Keynote Address
The keynote speaker will be William G. Kaelin, Jr., MD, a recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and a leading physician-scientist at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Dr. Kaelin’s research focuses on understanding how mutations in tumor-suppressor genes contribute to cancer development. His work has generated fundamental insights into how cells sense and respond to changes in oxygen availability.
These discoveries helped establish the scientific foundation for the development of new therapeutic approaches in cancer and other diseases.
Connecting Research With Funding and Investment
Following the keynote address, Dr. Kaelin will participate in a moderated panel discussion with leaders representing science, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and investment.
The discussion will be moderated by Amir Pasic, PhD, of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Additional panelists will include Laura Grannemann of the Gilbert Family Foundation and Rocket Community Fund, and Vincent Cordero of the University of Chicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Together, the speakers will examine how different sectors can work more effectively to support promising research, strengthen the pathway from laboratory discovery to clinical development, and create sustainable models for advancing new medicines.
A Forum Built Around Collaboration
The 2026 IBRI Global Forum will emphasize the importance of coordinated action across institutions and funding communities.
Scientific discoveries often require substantial financial resources, specialized expertise, translational infrastructure, and long-term strategic support before they can become viable treatments. By bringing together leaders from traditionally separate sectors, the forum aims to encourage new partnerships and practical approaches to overcoming these barriers.
The programme will focus on how philanthropy, private investment, and scientific leadership can complement one another to support innovation while maintaining scientific rigor and patient-focused goals.
Registration Now Open
Registration is open for the 2026 IBRI Global Forum, which will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis.
The morning event will offer participants an opportunity to hear from prominent leaders in translational medicine and connect with professionals working to advance discoveries from research laboratories into therapies for patients.
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD
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