Edison Biotechnology Institute receives new name and sharpened focus on molecular aging

The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine announced a name change and refined focus for the Edison Biotechnology Institute. Now called the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Aging, IMMA will build on the distinguished history of EBI to advance research in cancer, aging and drug discovery. 

EBI had a distinguished 40-year history of pioneering biotechnology research at Ohio University, serving as the home for numerous scientists from across the University, including that of Goll-Eminent Scholar John Kopchick, Ph.D., an expert on growth hormone who discovered SOMAVERT, a drug used to treat acromegaly.

Under its new name and more targeted research focus, IMMA will be a place for University researchers to come together and work on molecular scientific advancements around the aging process. The institute will support innovative research from bench to bedside, interdisciplinary training and the translation of discoveries into initiatives to enhance health span and quality of life.

“IMMA will advance scientific discovery and lead to the development of targeted interventions that promote healthy aging at the molecular level—aims that will ultimately advance our college vision of a healthier Ohio," said Heritage College Executive Dean Ken Johnson, D.O.

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At the June 12 Ohio University Board of Trustees Academics and Student Success Committee meeting, Johnson explained how IMMA and the other four health-focused institutes at Ohio University share the goal of improving health outcomes by advancing research and education. The board expressed its support for the transition of EBI to IMMA.

"With this transformation, we can enhance our strategic positioning, build on existing expertise and maximize funding opportunities, all of which will ultimately benefit the health of our communities,” said Darlene Berryman, Ph.D., associate dean of research and innovation at the Heritage College and the interim director of IMMA.

IMMA, along with the Diabetes Institute, Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI) and the Institute to Advance Health Equity (ADVANCE), will become anchor tenants in the new Heritage Translational Research Center when it opens in late 2026. The Athens-based research building, currently under construction, and the evolution of IMMA are being supported with funding from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation.