The University of Alabama at Birmingham on Thursday officially opened the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building in downtown Birmingham.
The 175,000-square-foot building brings together researchers, equipment and staff from the Heersink School of Medicine, Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute, the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Live HealthSmart Alabama, the Comprehensive Healthy Living Research Center and the Marnix Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation.
“This building is more than bricks and mortar — it’s a launchpad for discovery,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts, M.D. “The people who work in this unique, world-class facility will drive innovations that improve lives locally and worldwide and position UAB and Alabama as global leaders in precision medicine and data sciences.”
Funding for the building included $50 million from the state of Alabama, what UAB calls the largest-ever investment from the state in a university facility. Other funding came from Jefferson County, the city of Birmingham and donors including the Altec/Styslinger Foundation and Dr. Marnix and Mary Heersink.
“This facility represents the power of public-private partnership among UAB, the University of Alabama System, individual and corporate donors, the local business community and city, and our county and state leadership — all in an effort to drive better health and prosperity for the people of Alabama and beyond,” said Sid J. Trant, chancellor of the UA System.
