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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Fort Wayne Campus
Medical students get the opportunity to work in a wide range of medical research labs on the Fort Wayne campus throughout the academic year.

Medical Research

Exciting medical research is underway at IU School of Medicine—Fort Wayne. Faculty at this campus collaboratively conduct research in areas of neuroscience, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke and most recently Post-COVID 19. The Fort Wayne medical research facility provides spacious laboratories for each of the basic science faculty members at this campus.

Students at IU School of Medicine—Fort Wayne have opportunities to work with basic science and clinical faculty on research throughout the academic year. Additionally, IU School of Medicine—Fort Wayne sponsors the Student Education and Research Fellowship (SERF) program, which provides basic science and clinical research opportunities to medical students in a nine-week comprehensive program each summer. 

 

Faculty Spotlight

22223-Yen, Jui-Hung (Jimmy)

Jui-Hung (Jimmy) Yen

Associate Professor of Microbiology & Immunology

Dr. Yen works to develop anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases includes ischemic stroke and multiple sclerosis (MS). He also investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of these treatments.

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22631-Yu, I-Chen Ivorine

I-Chen Ivorine Yu, PhD

Assistant Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology

Dr. Yu investigates glial cell pathology and neuroinflammatory mechanisms contributed to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. Her laboratory has established several preclinical models of human neurodegenerative disorders, including acute ischemic stroke, global cerebral ischemia and chronic vascular dementia. They investigate molecular mechanisms using biochemical, cellular and immunohistochemical approaches in animal models as well as in isolated microglia and astrocytes. They implement a battery of behavioral tests to assess sensorimotor, learning and memory functions in animal models. The overarching goal is to lead the translation of scientific discoveries into novel therapeutic approaches that improve the quality of life for patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders. 

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Student Research Programs

In addition to the Student Education and Research Fellowship (SERF) program for medical students, the Fort Wayne campus offers a six-week program for undergraduate students. The Research Education for College Students (RECS) program offers an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn about research applications, components, ethics and methodology.

Several research opportunities are available to students at the Fort Wayne campus throughout the community.


The Community Research Consortium provides clinical research opportunities for residents and medical students as well as trainees in physician assistant, nurse practitioner, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing programs. For information about the Community Research Consortium, email Gina Bailey or call 260-257-6866.

The Research Education for College Student (RECS) Program is a six-week summer program open to students enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program. Applicants must have at least a 3.25 GPA and completed at least six credit hours of science courses. The program covers medical research components, methodology, applications and ethics.

The Student Education and Research Fellowship Program is a nine-week summer program open to graduate and medical students interested in strengthening basic research skills and practical experience conducting research independently.

During the summer following the first year of medical school, students can participate in a ten-week NIH-funded research program sponsored by IU School of Medicine. Participants in the Student Research Program in Academic Medicine program can undertake a research project in the laboratory of a Fort Wayne campus faculty member.

Medical Research Updates

IU School of Medicine is conducting advanced medical research at its campuses throughout Indiana. To keep track of these developments, IU School of Medicine offers a variety of information resources, including the newsroom and a research blog. To hear faculty researchers describe their work in person, plan to attend the annual meeting of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, featuring presentations and poster sessions from scientists across the state. Find seminars, scientific presentations and other live events on the IU School of Medicine calendar.

Research News

To stay current on the medical research work at IU School of Medicine, follow the IU School of Medicine newsroom and research blog, where investigators throughout the school’s academic departments post updates about their work.