The building serves as an academic and research facility for the IU School of Medicine providing significant laboratory space for the campus.

Originally, the building served to consolidate academic laboratory functions on the campus into a singular facility and provide space for the creation of a more robust medical library.

The Indiana University School of Medicine began pushing for a new medical science building in the early 1950s to increase their research capabilities on the Indianapolis campus.

The medical science building was the largest single expenditure at that time by the IU School of Medicine.

[2] The pathology department moved its teaching, research, and autopsy service from Fesler Hall to the first floor of the south wing of the building.

[6] In 2018, the Medical Science Building was renovated by American Structurepoint to bring the facility up to current research and academic standards.

In 1950, Van Nuys received the Distinguished Service Award of the Indiana Public Health Association and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Wabash College in 1952.