IU President Michael A. McRobbie announced the winner of the inaugural Grand Challenges Program on June 20. The most ambitious research program in the university’s history will invest $300 million in seed funding over the next five years for up to five initiatives that will harness the combined promise of premier IU scientists, scholars and students in close collaboration with business, nonprofit and government leaders.Indiana University honored Precision Health Initiative, a research initiative focused on patient-centered precision medicine therapies, as the first recipient of funding under the $300 million Grand Challenges Program.IU President Michael A. McRobbie, right, congratulates Dr. Anantha Shekhar, whose Precision Health Initiative was the inaugural Grand Challenges winner. Shekhar is the IU associate vice president for clinical affairs and IU School of Medicine executive associate dean for research affairs.Dr. Anantha Shekhar congratulates the rest of the Precision Health Initiative team. The team will seek to cure at least one cancer and one childhood disease, as well as find ways to prevent one chronic illness and one neurodegenerative disease.From left, Dr. Anantha Shekhar, IU President Michael A. McRobbie and Vice President for Research Fred Cate pose for a photo after the press conference.
