Grand Challenges

Grand Challenges was one of Indiana University's largest-ever research programs. It involved a series of research initiatives focused on addressing three major problems facing Indiana, the nation, and humanity worldwide that could be solved only by teams of dedicated researchers working across disciplines in collaboration with community partners. IU created three Grand Challenges initiatives in 2016 and 2017: Precision Health, Prepared for Environmental Change, and Responding to the Addictions Crisis. The impact of these initiatives endures in multiple successful programs at IU.

Read the inaugural Grand Challenges announcement

Read the second Grand Challenges announcement

Read the final Grand Challenges announcement

Precision Health Initiative

Chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease touch the lives of countless Hoosiers every year. Alleviating the burden of these conditions can dramatically improve the quality of life for those suffering across Indiana and help steward the state’s health care resources. IU’s Precision Health Initiative — launched in 2016 — is working to provide individualized, targeted treatments developed through the rigorous research of genetic, developmental, and environmental factors that influence health at a personal level.

Learn more about the Precision Health Initiative

Prepared for Environmental Change

As environmental factors change and evolve, Hoosiers face wide-ranging consequences that will affect our state’s economy and the health of our communities. Launched in early 2017, the Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge has brought together a broad, bipartisan coalition of researchers, government and business leaders, and nonprofit and community organizations to help Indiana better prepare and plan for the environmental changes that are impacting the way we live, grow food, and conduct business.

Learn more about the Environmental Resilience Institute

Responding to the Addictions Crisis

Launched in 2017, the Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge seeks to curtail the prevalence of substance use disorder across Indiana, decrease opioid overdose deaths, and reduce the number of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Research teams are leading work focused on combating stigma; developing and deploying new treatment and training options; preventing addiction and reducing harm; affecting law and policy; and studying the economic impact of the addictions crisis and its effect on our workforce.

Learn about IU's response to the addiction crisis