University breaks ground
on biomedical research addition

Several symbolic shovelfuls of dirt on May 26 cleared the way for a new biomedical research addition to UM’s Skaggs Building.

President George Dennison and representatives of the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences (formerly the School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences) spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by more than a hundred people.

The 59,000-square-foot addition will provide the college with adequate space for its extensive research programs. It will house interdisciplinary labs, conference rooms, an electronic classroom, a kindergarten-through-12th-grade learning center (or “exploratorium”), a tiered classroom and student support areas.
Major funding for the $14 million project came from campus-based revenue bonds, the ALSAM Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Poe Family Trust.

“It is remarkable, I think, that of the top 20 institutions receiving NIH grants and contracts in 2004, UM is the only one located in a state without a medical school,” said Dean David Forbes. “Clearly, our scientists are a serious national — even international — force in the investigation of health issues.”

Vernon Grund, chair of the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said, “We are creating the best biomedical research facility between Minneapolis and Seattle.”

Forbes said faculty in the college are studying many major, modern-day medical problems, with particular emphasis on environmental health, cardiovascular and neuroscience issues, and health issues related to bioterrorism.

He said the college is grateful to L.S. “Sam” Skaggs for his continued support. Contributions from Skaggs’ ALSAM Foundation and Albertson’s have totaled $11.7 million — $8.2 million to fund construction of the Skaggs Building in 1998 and a recent $3.5 million gift for the new building addition, which made a challenge grant from NIH possible.

The college’s pharmacy school was renamed the Skaggs School of Pharmacy in honor of its top donor in March 2005. It is the first named school at UM.