Senator Banks Visits Purdue with NIH Director Dr. Jay BhattacharyaThursday, February 19, 2026

West Lafayette, IN,– Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and National Institute of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya visited with Purdue University’s Office of Research Leadership.
Earlier this month, Senator Banks discussed the importance of fair health research funding for Indiana universities with Dr. Bhattacharya during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing titled“Modernizing the National Institutes of Health: Faster Discoveries, More Cures.”
Senator Jim Banks:“It was great to welcome NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to Purdue today. I’m grateful for his work modernizing the NIH to give world-class universities like Purdue a fairer shot at research funding and produce more life-saving medical treatments.”
While on campus, Senator Banks toured the Low Research Lab and hosted a community leaders roundtable. The roundtable included mayors, bipartisan state representatives, county council members, and business leaders from across West Lafayette and Tippecanoe and White counties.
Yesterday, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) visited Purdue University, where he toured the College of Veterinary Medicine with Dr. Wendy Townsend, spoke with students in the Intro to Tech Diplomacy in International Affairs class, and met with Provost Patrick J. Wolfe and several of Purdue’s college deans.
Senator Jim Banks:“Great to tour Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine with Dr. Wendy Townsend yesterday. Purdue’s veterinary school is one of the best in the nation and doing incredible work for the future of vet medicine.”
Senator Jim Banks:“Thanks to Purdue Professor Matt Ellis for inviting me to speak with his class about the growing role of technology and AI in policy making. Great conversation with a bright group of students!”
See more photos from the visithere.
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