Southern Research celebrated the grand opening of its new biotechnology center in Birmingham on Tuesday.
The facility doubles the organization’s lab capacity and expands its ability to combat chronic illnesses, cancer and infectious diseases.
The $98 million facility is at the corner of Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard and Ninth Avenue South.
“Southern Research and the University of Alabama at Birmingham continue to partner in groundbreaking discoveries that impact lives throughout Alabama and beyond,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts, who is serving as interim CEO of Southern Research. “This new, world-class facility will accelerate those efforts dramatically, as we work together to become the biotech commercialization leader in the Southeast. We could not make this progress without local, state and federal support and appreciate their continued efforts to grow the biotech industry in Birmingham.”
Southern Research broke ground on the 150,000-square-foot building in 2022, receiving financial support from the state of Alabama, city of Birmingham, Jefferson County and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
The Alabama Legislature included $45 million for the Southern Research building in the 2023 state budget, marking the state government’s first-ever investment in the 80-year-old campus.
The new building is the first major campus addition since 1987.
