Rosalind Franklin University Expands Research and Innovation with Military Grant, Incubator Doubling, and Clinical Trial Site

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) is advancing its research and innovation initiatives in 2026 with a $3.4 million Department of War grant for military health, the doubling of its Helix 51 biomedical incubator, and a 10-year lease with the Chicago Clinical Research Institute (CCRII) to operate a Phase I/II clinical trial site.

A research team from RFU and Old Dominion University was awarded a four-year, $3,419,895 grant from the U.S. Department of War’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) Technology/Therapeutic Development Award, starting September 1, 2026. The project, “Urinary Proteomic Biomarkers of Adaptive Bone Formation and Stress Injuries in Military Recruits,” aims to identify and validate urinary protein biomarkers to detect lower-extremity bone-stress injuries (BSIs) before they become severe, potentially reducing reliance on MRI and shortening diagnosis time. Bone-stress injuries affect 1% to 8% of military recruits and cost the Department of War approximately $100 million per year. The study will use advanced label-free quantitation, longitudinal military recruit cohorts, and gender-specific analyses. “By combining cutting-edge proteomic methods with access to large, well-characterized military cohorts, we aim to create a biomarker panel that safeguards recruits and enhances operational performance,” said an associate professor in RFU’s Department of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and Neuroscience Program, who directs the Human Performance Laboratory at the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research.

Meanwhile, RFU’s Innovation and Research Park in North Chicago is undergoing significant expansion. The Helix 51 biomedical incubator, launched eight years ago with approximately 6,700 square feet, has doubled to just under 13,000 square feet, adding capacity for up to 10 more early-stage biotech companies beyond the 12 currently housed. Lake County hosts more than 122 bioscience companies supporting roughly 33,000 jobs, and the incubator attracts startups developing technologies licensed from institutions such as Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and Advocate Health. Recent incubator tenants include Saros Therapeutics (a University of Michigan spinout), DeepBrain (an Endeavor spinout), and the Chicago Clinical Research Institute. “Momentum across our campus has accelerated significantly since late 2025. We are seeing a steady pipeline of promising companies choosing RFU as the place to launch and scale,” said the managing director of the Innovation and Research Park and Helix 51 incubator.

The Chicago Clinical Research Institute, a clinical research organization founded in 2005, in addition to joining the incubator, signed a 10-year lease to establish a separate Phase I/II clinical trial site at the park. The new facility addresses a critical shortage of Phase I clinical trial capacity in Illinois, which forces many bioscience companies to conduct early-stage research out of state. Phase I trials are the first human tests of new drugs, focusing on safety, dosing, and pharmacokinetics, typically in healthy volunteers. CCRII’s new site adds nearly 3,000 square feet of clinical research space and draws from Lake County’s population of 718,000. The company has conducted more than 250 clinical trials across therapeutic areas including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and oncology. “It is estimated that Illinois bioscience companies undertake more than 50 Phase I trials annually. To be in the heart of the Illinois bioscience community in Lake County represents a significant opportunity,” said the president and CEO of CCRII, noting the talent pool from RFU’s multiple health colleges.