History

V. Jo Davisson, Ph.D.

Medicinal Chemistry Molecular Pharmacology

George Wodicka, Ph.D.

Biomedical Engineering

Graham Cooks, Ph.D.

Chemistry

Harm HogenEsch, Ph.D.

Veterinary Pathobiology

Mark Hermodson, Ph.D.

Biochemistry

Chris Sahley, Ph.D.

Biological Sciences

Robert Hanneman, MD, Ph.D.

Visiting Professor, Chemical & Biomedical Engineering

1. Programmatic focus areas were defined with the vision of capitalizing on the post-genomic era in life sciences by increasing research capacity and capabilities and by interfacing with Bioengineering.
2. A new $15 million building to house the Bindley Bioscience Center was planned.
3. Performance indicators were outlined.
4. Corporate alignment strategies were detailed.
5. Funding/investment strategies were assessed and aligned with the University's strategic plan.
6. Overall implementation strategies were outlined:
   
   • Spearhead and facilitate institute, center, and program grant initiatives.
   • Lead the Purdue proteomics task force.
   • Create core research facilities for the new biology.
   • Help recruit faculty in key program areas to increase research capacity.
   • Seed projects for technology commercialization.
   • Provide leadership for corporate and university consortia.

• Interdisciplinary

  Discovery Park's purpose is to support multi-principal investigator (PI), multi-departmental research initiatives.



• Additive

  Discovery Park is intended to enhance and augment the core learning, discovery and engagement functions of the University and to expand and complement the resource base and underlying capabilities of the University. Central to Discovery Park is the facilitation of collaboration with existing programs for resources and to seek new sources of programmatic, capital and operating funds to initiate and sustain the Park's current and future endeavors.



• Ambitious

  Discovery Park is intended to provide physical and administrative resources to support cutting edge, high impact discovery and learning endeavors.



• Vital

  Discovery Park is intended to provide a dynamic, flexible and responsive intellectual environment for interdisciplinary researchers; to draw together researchers with large interdisciplinary initiatives; and to facilitate a nimble response to emerging research opportunities.



• Synergistic

  Large-scale equipment in Discovery Park will be broadly available to Discovery Park researchers. The Park will also facilitate support where the University has a particular expertise, steer public policy to foster grants in emerging areas, and help identify the University's future signature research areas.



• Engaged

  Discovery Park will seek external input and collaborate with corporate and governmental entities to inform and shape its projects. Discovery Park will benefit the external community through the development of new educational offerings, technologies, products and commercial opportunities. Discovery Park will seek to engage in "transforming" projects that may benefit Indiana, U.S. and global economic development and the quality of life of its citizens.



• Leadership

  By engaging faculty and students in the vigorous stimulating environment of Discovery Park, tomorrow's leaders will be developed who can provide the vision, strategies, and action steps to lead the nation in developing its science and engineering agenda.
  
  

1. Interdisciplinary Research Center and Institute Grants

   The Co-Directors and members of the Executive Team led a number of funding initiatives that would represent significant leverage of the Lilly Endowment grant. The leverage exists in the forms of cost shares for personnel and equipment, the space needed for the expanded programs, infrastructure from Discovery Park, programmatic links, and scientific leadership. The faculty responded positively to interdisciplinary grant submissions that were inspired and significantly enhanced by the existence of the BBC.

2. Faculty recruitment in program areas linked to the BBC

   The BBC Co-Directors engaged in recruiting new faculty in the Departments of Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences. At least three new individuals with research interests in the BBC program areas joined the faculty of Purdue University within the first year. Articulation of the vision of the BBC and Discovery Park aided recruitment efforts by generating added excitement about the increased capacity to conduct interdisciplinary research. In addition, the Purdue Cancer Center engaged in a faculty cluster hire process that had impact on the Purdue Proteomics Initiative and the BBC. Joint efforts in recruiting faculty in this key growth area fostered additional synergy in defining the infrastructure needs of life sciences research.