Texas A&M University marked the opening of its new Global Health Research Complex (GHRC) with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the new facility. GHRC is home to ABSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-3Ag research laboratories that serve several university and system entities, including the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center (including the College of Medicine), Texas AgriLife Research, and departments within these entities.
The state-of-the-art training facilities include a full mock-up of a biosafety level 3 Ag large animal room to safely train students and others to work with various large animals outside of containment but in a setting that replicates that space inside. The mock-up includes a cutaway of the barrier showing what it takes to go from a clean to a dirty space. Newly appointed Global Health Research Complex executive director, Kurt Zuelke, said, “GHRC is designed to train and develop the next generation of researchers, innovators and early responders who combat emerging and known diseases in the field, both domestically, and increasingly, internationally.”
Allison Ficht, GHRC Executive Director and Senior Associate Vice President for Research thanked all involved in bringing the facility to fruition, including Vaughn Construction, stating, “They were relentless in putting together this unique building. As you tour the complex today you will see a well-designed, beautifully crafted, cutting edge facility. But we all understand that the real value of the GHRC goes well beyond its architecture and well beyond its technology. The real value is found in our ability to break the cycles of infectious disease that threaten the people in Texas and that threaten the state’s livestock population.”
Vaughn served as construction manager-at-risk for the facility that opened in October. Perkins + Will served as the architect. Learn more about this project..