Dr. D. Craig Brater, dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine, has been named interim chairman of BioCrossroads, a private group that promotes new life-science companies in Indiana.

He replaces Dr. August “Gus” Watanabe, the group’s founding chairman, who died last week of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Brater will serve as interim chairman until BioCrossroads’ board of director meets later this year to elect a permanent chair.

He serves on BioCrossroads’ board and executive committee.

Crowd of 1,000 mourns Watanabe:Read the story.

He was one of the leaders of the original group that led to the formation of BioCrossroads in 2003.Brater was recruited to the medical school as a researcher in 1986 by Watanabe, who was then chairman of its Department of Medicine.

KETZENBERGER:Watanabe was mentor to many.

Four years later, Brater succeeded Dr. Watanabe as department chair when Watanabe went to work at Eli Lilly and Co. as a vice president in the Indianapolis drug maker’s laboratories.