The Indiana House Democrats' budget restores $35 million in startup funding for an expanded life-sciences partnership between Purdue and Indiana Universities.

The presidents of Purdue and IU got the word on the Indiana Innovation Alliance in the middle of a statehouse rally for supporters on hand to lobby for the money.

Purdue's France Cordova says the alliance would expand med-school facilities at seven IU and Purdue campuses, to attract more med students and researchers.

"We both have top faculty and top facilities, but IU has top clinical researchers and a top-flight medical school, while Purdue has top engineering (and) nanotechnology (programs)," Cordova says. "It's only by marrying those strengths that we can go to the next level."

IU's Michael McRobbie says the alliance could position Indiana to become the Silicon Valley of life sciences research.

The full House is expected to approve the budget next week, then send the plan to the Senate.