Regents approve cancer research project

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents Thursday approved the program statement and budget for construction of the Cancer Research Center.

Construction on the $110 million research tower is expected to begin in August with completion in April 2016. The tower is part of a $370 million Cancer Center project that includes a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic, a hospital tower with 108 beds dedicated to oncology patients, and an ambulatory care clinic dedicated to non-oncology specialties.

Tower features

The 252,000 square foot, multi-level research tower will feature:

  • 98 state-of-the-art laboratories dedicated to disease-specific cancer research including breast, brain, pancreatic, GI, prostate, lymphoma, leukemia, lung, head and neck and women’s cancer, as well as cancer vaccines and cancer drug development;
  • Laboratory support space and faculty offices;
  • Space to facilitate research and clinical staff collaboration; and
  • Teaching and student support space.

Campus research corridor to expand

The research tower, which will be built between the Durham Outpatient Center and the Durham Research Centers I and II, will be funded by private funds, as well as a $50 million commitment from the State of Nebraska.