About
An interdisciplinary student organization at Purdue built around healthcare and life sciences.
VITAL (Ventures and Innovation in Technology, AI, and Life Sciences) is an interdisciplinary student organization focused on biotechnology, healthcare innovation, artificial intelligence, business strategy, consulting, and biomedical research.
The organization is designed to help students explore how emerging healthcare technologies and scientific discoveries become scalable, real-world solutions through semester-long research initiatives, consulting projects, TED Talk inspired presentations, and professional development opportunities.
VITAL exists to empower students to explore and advance innovation in healthcare, biotechnology, and medical technology through interdisciplinary research, strategic analysis, consulting projects, and collaborative problem solving.
The organization aims to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world implementation by developing students' abilities in research, communication, leadership, and healthcare innovation.
To become a leading interdisciplinary healthcare innovation organization that develops future leaders capable of shaping the future of biotechnology, healthcare systems, artificial intelligence, and medical innovation.
How new healthcare ideas become companies, products and services.
New approaches to problems in care, diagnostics and treatment.
Software, devices and data that change how medicine is practiced.
Artificial intelligence in imaging, decision support and operations.
Biotech, pharma and the research that underpins them.
VITAL was founded at Purdue in fall 2026. Its founders came from engineering, the sciences, computer science and business, and saw the same thing from different sides: the problems in healthcare and life sciences rarely fit inside one major.
A new diagnostic tool needs engineers to build it, scientists to validate it, analysts to size its market and strategists to bring it to patients. VITAL was built to put those students on the same teams, working on research questions and company projects from their first semester.
From our fall 2026 club callout.
Every member joins one of two tracks. Both end on the same stage at the showcase.
Join one of four research teams and work through a single question over the project term, from the literature through to analysis and a final presentation.
Join a team of five consultants and a project manager working for a healthcare or life sciences company for a full semester.
Purdue students in any major interested in healthcare, biotech or AI are welcome. No experience required, just curiosity and drive.
We aren't accepting applications right now. Join the mailing list to hear about callouts and events.