Executive Leadership

Research Affairs

Supporting innovative medical research and groundbreaking scientific discovery

A female researcher looks into a microscope.

The Office of Research Affairs enables IU School of Medicine scientists and learners to take on innovative medical research projects that promote groundbreaking scientific discovery to improve patient care and health outcomes.

With more than 3,700 full-time faculty, $548 million in research awards and statewide clinical partnerships, the IU School of Medicine is well-equipped to take on the world’s most pressing health challenges. The Office of Research Affairs fosters a welcoming and collaborative research environment and facilitates resources and services to support researchers, including funding opportunities, graduate training and mentorship programs.

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Meet the executive associate dean

Tatiana Foroud, PhD, an internationally recognized geneticist with over three decades of experience with the IU School of Medicine, was named executive associate dean for research affairs in 2020. Foroud is a statistical geneticist and leader in dementia research. She runs the NIH-designated repository for blood, DNA, tissue and other samples collected throughout the country from patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Foroud’s research is funded by the NIH and is focused on the identification of genes and genetic variants contributing to a range of neurodegenerative and alcohol use disorders. She is also the principal investigator of multiple NIH- and foundation-supported biorepositories that lead efforts to identify biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. She is the scientific director of the Indiana Biobank, a repository with specimens from over 50,000 individuals, which serves as a research resource for both academic and industry investigators.

Meet the Research Affairs team

tatiana foroud in front of the biobank storage space

Research priorities and expertise

IU School of Medicine investigators conduct world-class basic, translational and clinical research in a broad range of scientific endeavors. Neuroscience, cancer, global health, musculoskeletal health,d clinical research and diabetes/cardiovascular/metabolic disorders have been designated as research priority areas and reflect the school’s areas of expertise.

Neuroscience

Clinical Research

Global Health

Cardiovascular Disease

Musculoskeletal Health

Cancer

bruce lamb looks at a sample as he holds it up to the light

Always something new

The Office of Research Affairs oversees a comprehensive research enterprise guided by the following goals:

Increase the impact of scientific discovery and clinical translation.
Increase NIH funding to be in the top 10 public medical schools by 2030.
Diversify sources of research funding, including increasing focus on industry partnerships.
Increase the number of patients enrolled in clinical trials to ensure clinical research adequately reflects the people of Indiana.
Increase the national recognition of our faculty and staff.

Strategic plan to accelerate discovery

Training the next generation

The IU School of Medicine offers excellent research training programs for graduate students, whether they’re looking to pursue a career that intimately incorporates research with clinical care or specialize in many areas of basic science.

PhD Programs

Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD)

Masters Degrees

Graduate Certificates

Postdoctoral Training

Research news

Two men review results in a lab

IU researchers identify proteins fueling rare childhood leukemia, revealing new treatment strategy

By identifying a specific set of inflammatory proteins that drive JMML’s growth and weaken the immune system, IU researchers have uncovered a new strategy to combat the aggressive childhood blood cancer.

June 16, 2026

Two researchers work in a lab

Scientists develop nanoparticle delivery system to target blood cancer cells

IU cancer researchers have developed a "smarter" nanoparticle delivery system that steers cancer therapies directly to multiple myeloma cells in the bone marrow while sparing healthy tissues.

June 10, 2026

A woman in a lab coat looks into a microscope

Beta cells may play active role in triggering Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes may be sparked by early failures in the stress responses of insulin-producing beta cells long before the immune system attacks.

May 21, 2026