NEW YORK and CHICAGO, Nov. 9, 2026 — A first-of-its-kind analysis of the 52 leading biomedical research institutions across eight Midwest states shows the region outperforms the nation in clinical trials, gene therapy, and patents, the capabilities that turn scientific discoveries into new treatments for patients. The Cure analysis, developed in collaboration with the Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC) and using Cure Innovation Index data, also identifies gaps the region must close to turn more of its science into companies and therapies. Cure and the CBC will release the full report, “Built to Innovate: The Biomedical Power and Potential of a Connected Midwest,” on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the 2026 Midwest BioBuilders Summit in Chicago.
The Cure Innovation Index is the first evidence-based measure of how well the top 303 U.S. research institutions turn science into real-world impact. The new report evaluates universities, institutes, and centers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Inside the Report
The report finds the Midwest region is built to test and make new medicines, but with gaps that no single institution can close alone. The full findings, including some surprising results about where the Midwest leads, where it lags, and which institutions are stronger than their rankings suggest, will be released at the Summit.
"When people talk about U.S. life sciences, the Midwest isn’t on the radar, but it should be," said Seema Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Cure, the New York City-based healthcare innovation ecosystem, who will open the Summit. "Boston may be biotech’s darling and the Bay Area its birthplace, but the Midwest has standout strengths in the areas that get discoveries tested, proven and turned into new treatments for patients. There is so much untapped potential here, and collaboration across institutions, investors, and industry is what will unlock it." Michelle Hoffmann, PhD, Executive Director of the CBC, echoes Kumar and the report's findings. "The Midwest has exceptional science. What we need is a stronger, more connected ecosystem that can turn that science into companies, partnerships, and ultimately therapies that reach patients," said Hoffmann. "I know here in Illinois, we have spent the last five years building infrastructure like Portal Innovations, the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park Labs, the University of Illinois’s Discovery Partners Institute, and Northwestern’s Querrey InQbation Labs. The opportunity now is to attract the capital and connect the expertise needed to scale that innovation. That's why we created the Midwest BioBuilders Summit." Midwest’s flagship biotech gathering: 2026 Midwest BioBuilders Summit
The Summit, organized by the CBC, will showcase more than 100 promising biomedical innovations and emerging companies from across seven Midwest states, representing 16 universities and research institutions. The density of the Midwest’s innovation attracts venture capital investors, pharmaceutical executives, academic innovators, biotech founders and ecosystem leaders to advance the Midwest's growing biomedical innovation economy.
The Summit, which aims to increase the visibility of the Midwest's early-stage biotech pipeline, will feature a keynote address from Alexis Borisy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Curie.Bio; a fireside conversation with Martin Burke, MD, PhD, Co-Founder of Excelsior Sciences, and Mark Michalski, MD, Chief Information Officer at Deerfield Management, exploring AI-driven drug discovery; and discussions featuring leaders from Pfizer Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Takeda, and other leading organizations. Pre-summit events include satellite programs focused on women’s health innovation and an industry introduction to quantum biology.
"The Midwest has long been a powerhouse of biomedical discovery, but our strengths and the potential of our innovation ecosystem do not get the attention they deserve or need," Hoffmann said. "The Cure Innovation Index's evidence-based data shows what the CBC's deep understanding of the region's translational landscape has known: There is huge potential, but we need to do some work, especially in computing, industry relationships, and visibility.”
Interested parties can register for the Summit at: https://cbcbiobuildersummit2026.eventify.io/px/welcome
About the Chicago Biomedical Consortium
The Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC) is a nonprofit organization working to make the Midwest a leading source of biotech innovation. The CBC works across our network of nine Illinois universities to evaluate and de-risk early-stage discoveries with industry rigor: identifying risks early, validating results independently, and advancing only the programs that earn it. Our goal is to create investable companies with strong scientific and commercial foundations and to develop the next generation of translational talent to support them. To learn more, visit https://www.thegreenhousecbc.org/
About Cure
Cure is the premier healthcare innovation ecosystem that provides knowledge, infrastructure and tools to accelerate progress toward cures. Headquartered in New York City, Cure convenes all key stakeholders for innovation across its physical and digital community. The campus houses flagship event venues and is home to healthcare organizations from idea stage to public companies. Cure members gain access to premium opportunities and curated connections. In 2026, the Cure Innovation Index was published, providing unmatched visibility into how research institutions translate breakthrough science into real-world health impact. Innovate with Cure at wewillcure.com.
About the Cure Innovation Index
The Cure Innovation Index, launched in April 2026, evaluates 25 indicators across three core domains: Research Capabilities, Entrepreneurial Readiness and Market Translation. The Index ranks the top 303 academic institutions, composed of 243 universities and 60 institutes and centers, from more than 6,000 nationwide. It provides peer-benchmarked comparisons and customized improvement recommendations. The multi-dimensional methodology of the Index uses validated data integrated from more than a dozen federal and commercial databases. These include the NSF Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey and Dimensions, an inter-linked research information system provided by Digital Science. NOTE TO REPORTERS: The entire “Built to Innovate: The Biomedical Power and Potential of a Connected Midwest” report and a media tip sheet are available under embargo on request from index@cureexperience.com. The embargo lifts at 8:30 a.m. CST (9:30 a.m. EST) on Thursday, Nov. 12, to coincide with Seema Kumar's opening remarks at the 2026 Midwest BioBuilders Summit.
