BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie, alongside Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy, will announce a major collaboration and comprehensive response to the state’s addiction crisis at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 10 at the Indiana Statehouse.
The initiative, which will engage the geographically diverse resources of IU’s seven campuses and in partnership with state officials, IU Health and Eskenazi Health, is the third initiative of the IU Grand Challenges Program, a $300 million initiative to develop transformative solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.
Indiana is one of four states where the fatal drug overdose rate has quadrupled since 1999. Hoosiers are now more likely to die from a drug overdose than a car accident. According to the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI, the total cost of drug overdoses in Indiana tops $1 billion annually.
WHAT: Announcement of IU’s third Grand Challenges initiative
WHEN: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10.
WHERE: Indiana Statehouse, South Atrium, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
WHO: Speakers will include Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, IU President Michael A. McRobbie, IU Vice President for Research Fred H. Cate and IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy.
The speakers and the leader of the newly funded initiative will be available for interviews immediately following the ceremony.
A livestream of the announcement will also be available at broadcast.iu.edu and via Facebook Live at the IU Facebook page. Parking is available in public spaces near the Statehouse.
About Grand Challenges
Designed to develop transformative solutions for the world’s most pressing problems, the IU Grand Challenges Program harnesses the combined promise of IU scientists, scholars and students in close collaboration with business, nonprofit and government leaders. The program has also launched two other initiatives: the Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge and the Precision Health Initiative Grand Challenge.
