Musculoskeletal disorders affect nearly one in two American adults and account for more than $1.3 trillion in annual economic impact, making them one of the nation's most significant health and workforce challenges. Yet transforming promising musculoskeletal discoveries into treatments, devices, and diagnostics that improve patient care remains a slow and fragmented process.  

The NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana, led by Indiana University, is bridging the gap between discovery and commercialization by building the shared resources, partnerships, and support needed to bring new musculoskeletal technologies to market.

Indiana's Musculoskeletal Innovation Triangle sits at the intersection of orthopedic manufacturing, pharmaceutical research, engineering, and clinical care. Home to industry leaders such as Zimmer Biomet and Eli Lilly, the region combines the assets and capabilities needed to develop, test, manufacture, and scale new musculoskeletal technologies. The NSF IMPACT Engine is bringing together engineers, clinicians, researchers, and industry leaders from across the region to advance biotechnology, biomaterials, diagnostics, and AI-enabled health technologies, while building the workforce and entrepreneurial support needed to bring these new solutions to market.