A new $60.8 million facility that aims to foster collaboration among Engineering, Human Medicine and Natural Science is moving forward on Michigan State University's campus. The new Bio Engineering Facility was approved by the
MSU Board of Trustees this month.
"You get a lot of synergy by getting these interdisciplinary groups together," says David DeWitt, associate dean for research for MSU's College of
Natural Science. "The sum of the parts is greater than the pieces themselves."
The Bio Engineering Building has been under development for about six years. The four-story, 130,000 square foot facility will include office and open laboratory space. The effort to connect related areas of research together is nothing to MSU, says DeWitt. The college has previously combined bio chemistry and agriculture teams to collaborate on projects that make sense from the lab to farmers' fields.
"I think this is a really good investment," says DeWitt. "It'll be a good opportunity for us to do some new research in translational medicine that will have an effect on people's health."
MSU is awaiting $30 million in funding from the State of Michigan to fund the project. Approval from the state is expected in May, and DeWitt hopes to break ground in late July or early August. Construction is expected to take about two years.
Source: David DeWitt, MSU College of Natural Science
Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor
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