The research collaboration agreement is the largest ever such deal signed by Purdue University.

Purdue University has entered a $52m strategic collaboration agreement with pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly that will involve researchers from the natural and physical sciences, engineering and veterinary medicine.

The deal is the largest such agreement Purdue has signed with a corporate, though it follows a long history of collaboration between the two partners.

Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University, said: “Lilly and Purdue University are entering a new level of collaboration that will move us forward in areas core to…