More than 300 industry leaders, researchers, healthcare professionals and academic institutions gathered to examine how artificial intelligence is transforming life sciences research, manufacturing, clinical care and workforce development—and how Indiana can help lead what comes next. 

On October 28, BioCrossroads convened Indiana’s life sciences community for the 2026 Life Sciences Summit, AI and the Future of Life Sciences, bringing together more than 300 leaders from industry, academia, healthcare and technology to explore the opportunities and challenges of applying artificial intelligence across the life sciences ecosystem. The Summit focused on how Indiana can combine its established strengths in scientific discovery, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, and healthcare delivery with emerging AI capabilities to accelerate innovation and improve lives. 

Indiana’s life sciences industry generates $102 billion in economic activity and supports approximately 70,000 Hoosier jobs. As a national leader in life sciences and pharmaceutical exports, the state has the scientific expertise, manufacturing infrastructure and clinical knowledge needed to help translate emerging technologies into real-world applications. 

Through the BioHeartland, a newly launched identity connecting Indiana’s strengths in human health, animal health and plant science, the state has an opportunity to bring these capabilities together and advance innovation from discovery through development, manufacturing and delivery. 

“The opportunity is not simply to adopt AI. It is to rethink what becomes possible when AI is combined with the extraordinary scientific, clinical, and industrial capabilities we have already built,” said BioCrossroads President and CEO Vince Wong in his closing remarks. 

Throughout the Summit, panel discussions examined how AI is being applied across the life sciences industry, from early-stage research to manufacturing operations and patient care. Moderated by David Umulis, senior vice provost of Purdue University Indianapolis, the opening panel explored how AI can help researchers identify biomarkers, design molecules, recruit clinical trial participants and prepare regulatory submissions. Panelists Daisuke Kihara of Purdue University, Dowdy Jackson of Antigenix Therapeutics and Yunlong Liu of Indiana University Indianapolis discussed the opportunities for computational tools to expand scientific discovery while underscoring the importance of scientific expertise and careful evaluation. 

Tom Forman, senior vice president at BioCrossroads and executive director of Catalyze Indiana, moderated a discussion on the intersection of AI, technology and manufacturing. Yuehwern Yih of Purdue University, Adam Martin of Qwyn AI and Arup Roy of Eli Lilly and Company explored how AI can improve manufacturing operations, the challenges of implementing new tools in complex production environments, and the preparation required to help teams use these technologies effectively. 

For Indiana, where pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing are defining industry strengths, these applications represent an opportunity to build on existing capabilities while continuing to improve efficiency, reliability and quality. 

The conversation then turned to clinical care and the patient experience. Moderated by Ketan Paranjape, founder and CEO of MainstreamAINow, the panel brought together Paul Biondich of Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine, Mark Mabus of Parkview Health, Natasha Parekh of Marathon Health and Peter Polverini of Cook Medical. The discussion examined where AI can contribute to healthcare delivery, how organizations evaluate its usefulness, and what it takes to incorporate these tools into clinical workflows while maintaining patient trust and clinical judgment. 

The Summit also explored the role of workforce development, higher education and ethics in an increasingly AI-enabled life sciences economy. The afternoon’s panel, moderated by Rachel Patzer, president and CEO of Regenstrief Institute, examined the role of universities in developing AI, preparing talent and guiding responsible adoption. Panelists Karen Deak of the University of Notre Dame, Lucy Flesch of Purdue University, Peter Schwartz of Indiana University and Ronak Shah of NVIDIA discussed how academic institutions can work with industry and healthcare organizations to prepare the next generation of talent and address the ethical considerations that accompany AI adoption. 

The Summit’s AI Innovation Hub extended these conversations beyond the stage. Attendees explored emerging research, demonstrations and poster presentations, including an iXplore virtual reality experience, and connected directly with the people developing new tools and approaches. Following the main program, AnalytiXIN hosted three concurrent workshops focused on the Provena Consortium data asset, advancing healthcare operations with AI, and AI-enabled tools for patients—providing additional opportunities for participants to explore practical applications and potential collaborations. 

The Summit also recognized the contributions of an individual whose career exemplifies the impact of scientific discovery, collaboration and leadership on Indiana’s life sciences community. Dr. D. Wade Clapp received the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, which honors the legacy of BioCrossroads’ founding chairman and recognizes individuals whose contributions have advanced Indiana’s life sciences sector and improved lives. 

A physician-scientist and longtime leader at Indiana University School of Medicine, Clapp has built an internationally recognized research program focused on childhood cancers and genetic diseases, including neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

His research has helped advance understanding of these conditions and contributed to the development of the first effective treatments for NF1-associated tumors. His leadership as chair of the Department of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine for 17 years also helped strengthen Indiana’s pediatric research enterprise and prepare the next generation of physician-scientists. 

Presented by Dan Peterson of Cook Group and David Ingram of IU Health, the award recognized a career defined not only by scientific achievement, but also by mentorship, institutional leadership and a commitment to translating research into meaningful outcomes for patients and families. 

The 2026 Summit reinforced the importance of connecting Indiana’s existing life sciences strengths with emerging technologies and the people equipped to put them to work. 

AI has the potential to accelerate scientific discovery, improve manufacturing processes, support clinical decision-making and create new opportunities for personalized healthcare. Realizing those benefits, however, will require continued collaboration among established life sciences companies, technology innovators, researchers, healthcare organizations, universities and entrepreneurs. 

BioCrossroads thanks the Summit’s speakers, moderators, sponsors and attendees for contributing to these important conversations.

Thank you to the 2026 Life Sciences Summit sponsors: Platinum Sponsor Eli Lilly and Company; Gold Sponsors Elanco and Purdue University; Silver Sponsors Quality Connections and Novartis; and Bronze Sponsors Dean Dorton, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute and AnalytiXIN. BioCrossroads also thanks Novartis for sponsoring breakfast, Medallion Partners for supporting lunch, and INCOG BioPharma Services for sponsoring networking.