Eli Lilly to expand research center

Eli Lilly and Company will be expanding its Indianapolis research and development headquarters.

The expanded facility will include 130,000 added square feet and a new $70 million multi-disciplinary research lab, which will open in 2017 and allow collaborations between organic chemists and engineers.

 "We are excited to grow our presence in Indianapolis, which is home to our largest global R&D facility and where our research efforts began," Dr. Jan Lundberg, executive VP of science and technology and president of Lilly Research Laboratories, said. "Evolving our laboratories will position Lilly and its Indianapolis-based scientists to more efficiently discover and develop new treatments that will make life better."

Bret Huff, VP of small molecule design and development, spoke about the significance of innovation on his company.  

 "Ultimately, innovation is often tied to where and how we work together, so we wanted to create an environment that could unlock this potential," Huff said. "We believe this expansion will allow for greater collaboration among Lilly's small molecule research experts, which will help to further accelerate the development of new medicines within the company's core therapeutic areas."

 The Indianapolis expansion is part of Lilly’s larger research and development expansion around the United States, including building a delivery and device innovation center in Cambridge, Mass.; an expansion of its biotechnology center in San Diego; and an expansion of its presence at the Alexandria Center for Life Science in New York.