(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Sen. Jim Banks is calling on federal agencies to increase research funding for Indiana, arguing the state's leading universities are not receiving support proportional to their national impact.
Speaking during a recent Senate hearing, Banks pointed to Indiana's R1 research institutions -- Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame -- as national leaders in areas such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer research.
Despite those achievements, Banks said Indiana receives nearly ten times less funding from the National Institutes of Health than Massachusetts, a disparity he described as difficult to justify.
"Indiana has the expertise and innovation to contribute at the highest level, but current funding levels do not reflect that capability," Banks said during the hearing.
Banks urged federal research agencies to adopt a more balanced approach when distributing grant dollars, particularly to states with proven scientific capacity and growing research infrastructure.
The remarks come as competition for federal research funding intensifies nationwide, with states seeking to expand scientific discovery, attract top researchers, and leverage innovation for long-term economic growth.