INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Health are taking a major leap forward in precision medicine with the establishment of the IU Health Theranostics Center of Excellence. The new center combines advanced diagnostic imaging with targeted therapies to expand personalized treatments for cancer and other complex medical conditions across Indiana.
The transformative initiative integrates Indiana University’s clinical, research and educational missions with IU Health’s clinical network. The financial commitment from IU Health directly supports the growth of the Indiana University School of Medicine’s department of radiology and imaging sciences, funding essential equipment, faculty recruitment, staffing and dedicated facility space. The new Theranostics Center of Excellence will provide the department, the school and the state of Indiana with multiple new opportunities to advance research as well as expose our trainees to state-of-the-art clinical care.
Theranostics pairs therapeutic interventions with precision diagnostic imaging — most notably radioligand therapy (RLT) for cancer — to locate disease at a cellular level and deliver treatment directly to affected cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Beyond cancer care, the new center encompasses advanced imaging capabilities including ultrahigh field (UHF) MRI and interventional MRI (iMRI), applying precision technology to conditions such as treatment-resistant epilepsy and MRI-guided ablations.
A three-phase approach to precision care
The center is launching in three distinct phases designed to move scientific discoveries from university laboratories straight to patient bedside.
Phase 1: Radioligand Therapy (RLT): Building on Indiana University’s history in developing, testing and delivering early clinical applications of therapies like Pluvicto for advanced prostate cancer, the first phase expands the clinical footprint and industry research partnerships. Cindy Yuan, MD, PhD, assistant professor of clinical radiology and imaging sciences, serves as director of theranostics, leading the RLT program alongside faculty from the department. In conjunction with the upcoming launch of the Medical Imaging Research Institute (MIRI) Cancer Imaging and Theranostics Research Center (CITRC), this will establish a pipeline to brin new RLT therapies from the identification of cancer biomarkers through phase III clinical trials.
Phase 2: Interventional MRI (iMRI): Focused on image-guided procedural care, the second phase leverages superior contrast resolution for precise targeting without ionizing radiation. IU researchers have already collaborated with Cook Medical, Siemens Healthineers and IU LAB to transform an existing 0.55T scanner into a research iMRI laboratory in the R2 building, set to be fully functional by the end of the year. Plans are also underway to establish a clinical iMRI suite in downtown Indianapolis over the next year, which will be overseen by Christopher Sinsabaugh, MD, assistant professor of clinical radiology and imaging sciences.
Phase 3: Ultrahigh Field (UHF) MRI: Expanding on preclinical research utilizing a 9.4T Bruker MR scanner led by Yu-Chien Wu, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and imaging sciences and scientific director of the research imaging core within MIRI, IU Health will place a human UHF MR scanner in downtown Indianapolis — the first human UHF MRI in the state of Indiana. This mixed-use clinical and research tool will enhance spatial resolution and provide new MRI techniques, facilitating the development of multiple new areas of MRI research and allowing experts to nearly double the rate of target identification for surgical or ablation therapies in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy.
Advancing research, education and statewide access
The joint effort leverages local industry relationships and academic research pipelines to expand clinical trial opportunities throughout the wider IU network, bringing early scientific advancements and FDA-approved therapies to patients across the state. Central to this effort is the establishment of the CITRC within the Medical Imaging Research Institute at the IU School of Medicine, which bridges university research with clinical deployment.
"Made possible by a generous donation that established the Tobias-Lechleiter Institute for Clinical Innovation at IU Health and through the forward-thinking leadership at IU Health, the Theranostics Center of Excellence will truly advance the clinical and research capabilities at IU Health and IU School of Medicine," said Jason Allen, MD, PhD, Eugene C. Klatte professor and chair of the department of radiology and imaging sciences. "Furthering our RLT, iMRI, and UHF MRI programs will bring us closer to our goal of providing the most advanced therapies to patients as quickly as possible and elevating the health of Hoosiers. The center will continue to cement our reputation as a clinical and research leader in theranostics."
"Radiotheranostics represents one of the fastest growing and most strategically important areas in precision medicine," said Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD, vice chair of research and executive director of MIRI. "As Indianapolis rapidly emerges as one of the nation's premier centers for radiopharmaceutical discovery, manufacturing, and clinical translation, IU has a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to establish itself as the leading academic partner within this expanding ecosystem."
"This new Theranostics Center of Excellence represents an amazing commitment from Indiana University and IU Health to advancing care for all Hoosiers," said Yuan. "The coordinated push to advance both clinical and research imaging and therapies takes advantage of our local industry partners to provide cutting-edge services for the state. We look forward to expanding clinical service lines to all corners of the state and expanding and building research services to enable clinical trial participation in the wider Indiana University network."
By linking preclinical research directly to human clinical trials, the center positions Indiana University as a primary engine for medical translation and precision health.
"Over the last several years, Indiana University has developed a reputation for precision targeting, initially with the use of robotic assisted ablation," explains Sinsabaugh. "iMRI affords us the opportunity to continue to grow our precision targeted therapy program and become a national leader in low-field strength interventional MR procedures. We expect our procedural volume to continue to grow as we develop new and better ways to use low-field strength MR to facilitate, monitor and perform therapy in patients that would previously have been un-targetable."
"This incredible financial investment by IU Health perfectly complements the neuroimaging programs here at IU School of Medicine," said Wu. "We serve as the scientific engine translating advanced imaging discoveries into precision medicine. Following our recent NIH S10 grant to implement the Cima.X Fit high-performance gradient 3T MRI scanner, I am currently helping lead the 7T MRI implementation task force. Together, our continuous infrastructure upgrades ensure Indiana residents have direct access to pioneering therapeutic clinical trials."
As the Center of Excellence continues to roll out, additional announcements are expected regarding new faculty appointments, expanded research initiatives and new precision clinical therapies for patients throughout Indiana.
About the Indiana University School of Medicine
The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 15 in 2025 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.
Writer: Zoe Hagymasi, zohagy@iu.edu
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