Major Indiana life science players agreed to elevate the state’s biomanufacturing workforce at the annual BioCrossroads Life Sciences Summit. Leaders from BioCrossroads, Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College, Eli Lilly, and the Advanced Research Institute were present at the announcement of the agreement with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT).
Through Heartland BioWorks, the regional tech hub established with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the state of Indiana will become the exclusive Midwest provider of NIBRT’s biomanufacturing training programs. Based in Ireland, NIBRT is widely recognized for its efforts in biomanufacturing education, research, and workforce training.
Purdue’s William D. and Sherry L. Young Institute for the Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals will be a key implementation partner for the NIBRT license through its BioTrain Fellows, which will integrate the NIBRT curriculum to prepare students and professionals for careers in biotechnology and biomanufacturing throughout Indiana.
“Making NIBRT’s biomanufacturing training programs accessible in Indiana greatly complements our efforts to attract and train students and professionals for careers in biotechnology and biomanufacturing,” said Alina Alexeenko, PhD, the Reilly Professor in Aeronautics and Astronautics and Chemical Engineering in Purdue’s College of Engineering and co-director of the Young Institute. “The addition of more specialized training opportunities will increase Indiana’s pharmaceutical manufacturing talent pool.
“As biomanufacturing is integral to human, animal and plant health—and Indiana’s life science sector—this initiative also supports Purdue’s One Health initiative.”
“This partnership reflects the power of global collaboration in advancing biomanufacturing excellence,” said Killian O’Driscoll, NIBRT’s chief commercial officer. “By combining NIBRT’s international expertise with Indiana’s growing life sciences ecosystem, we are creating a world-class training hub that will prepare talent to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving industry—not just locally, but globally.”
Starting in 2026, the NIBRT training curriculum will be piloted at Heartland BioWorks’ Indianapolis headquarters with hands-on training beginning in 2027.
“Purdue plays a vital role in growing the state of Indiana’s biopharma workforce by connecting world-class research and education to industry needs right here in Indianapolis,” said David Umulis, Purdue senior vice provost for Indianapolis. “Through partnerships like this as well as BioTrain, we are creating new pathways for Purdue students to gain the skills and experience needed to thrive, ensuring our city and state remain at the national forefront of biomanufacturing education, research and economic growth.”
