Regenerative Medicine and Technologies is a rapidly growing discipline that will shape the future of health care. The new PhD program will train next generation leaders who will contribute to the much-required, skilled workforce across the country and in Indiana. The program is expected to make a major economic impact through training new leaders in the field.

Regenerative medicine is an innovative new branch of medicine that develops methods to regrow, repair or replace damaged or diseased cells, organs, or tissues. The field includes the generation and use of cell/tissue reprogramming, therapeutic stem cells, tissue engineering, and the production of bioartificial organs. A drug is eligible for regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designation by the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA), as described in Section 3033 of the 21st Century Cures Act. The new PhD program will be one of only six regenerative medicine PhD programs in the country and the second with an industry emphasis.

One of the primary missions for this program is to offer graduate-level research-intensive education of trainees to enter the workforce of a sharply rising regenerative medicine economy. This mission aligns with advancing the state's economic prosperity, ecological stewardship, and social well-being. The regenerative medicine industry is an integral part of this program and played an essential role in its development. The proposed RMAT graduate program is consistent with Indiana University's role as a major research university and as one of the nation's growing regional and national forces in shaping the future of healthcare.

The program is part of the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering, which is housed in the IU School of Medicine Department of Surgery. The center is a national leader in the areas of tissue nanotransfection, wound therapy, cell-based therapies, military medicine, and more. There will be ample opportunities to work on research projects for students with an interest in these areas. The creation of graduate degrees in RMAT will provide affordable, accessible, and structured educational programs in translational research. The formalized degree program will provide vital and transformative STEM education to provide a world-changing research opportunity to graduate students.

The Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), funded by the White House in 2016, is a joint initiative of the federal government and industry created to advanceRegenerative Medicine. ARMI recognizes the shortage of working professionals in regenerative medicine, causing a significant barrier in the growth of regenerative medicine. For this reason, the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering created a new and exciting PhD program aiming to develop a workforce in regenerative medicine and technology for the state of Indiana. This program emphasizes training scholars in regenerative medicine-based innovations, regulatory science, and supply chain management.

The program will be unique due to its industry and academic interface. The curriculum emphasizes subjects such as applied sciences & technology, manufacturing, regulatory compliance, military medicine, industrial and clinical internship. The candidates' rigorous curriculum and innovative research will meet the high standards associated with a PhD degree from Indiana University and prepare the graduates for an emerging and expanding job market. Market research in 2017 by Polaris valued the global market for regenerative medicine at $14.76 billion, and this market is expected to expand to nearly $79.23 billion by 2026.