A new executive dean of the IU School of Medicine is calling for more collaboration and entrepreneurship.
Anantha Shekhar has accepted the position of Executive Dean for Research for the school, two years before IU plans to open a campus in Downtown Evansville.
Shekhar tells Inside Indiana Business that an important part of research is partnering with health care industry. He points to the school's biggest partner, Eli Lily.
Shekhar says he hopes to grow a partnership with another Indiana life sciences giant, Bloomington-based Cook Group, which could lead to advances in cell-based cancer therapies.
The school is also working with a Chicago pharmaceutical company on arthritis and inflammatory diseases, as well as liver conditions.
In his new position, Shekhar will oversee all research-related activities at the IU School of Medicine. He succeeds David Wilkes, who was recently named dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine.