OK will build KU biomedical center, KSU and WSU labs

? The signature of Gov. Bill Graves is all that is required to set into motion a major state effort to increase research at public universities in Kansas.

The House on Tuesday voted 101-23 to authorize the sale of $133 million in bonds to build research facilities at Kansas University, Kansas State University and Wichita State University and improve a Wichita aviation laboratory.

The action comes after Senate approval last week and places the legislation on Graves’ desk for his consideration. Graves has indicated his support for the bill.

Under the bill, the state would sell bonds to build a biomedical center at Kansas University Medical Center, a food-safety lab at Kansas State and a new aviation lab at Wichita State.

State taxpayers would retire the debt on $50 million of the bonds; the universities would be responsible for paying off the balance.

In addition to the research bonds, the bill includes authorization for $13 million in bonds to improve an existing wind tunnel lab in Wichita that is used by the aviation industry. Those bonds will be fully backed by taxpayer funds.

Ed Phillips, vice chancellor for administration at the Med Center, said KU’s portion of the research bonds will go toward building a five-story, 205,000-square-foot building that will be used for research in numerous areas.

“We are very excited about this and are itching to be able to move forward,” Phillips said.

The biomedical center will be used to further research on diseases, brain development, genetics and the human genome.

He said the research would attract federal and private grants, boost the economy and lead to life-saving breakthroughs.

“It’s going to make our lives better and have a significant economic impact. All of our labs are at capacity, so if we want to bring more researchers, we have to have these types of buildings,” Phillips said.

The funds will be combined with $27 million from a donation from the Hall Family Foundation. About $6 million will be used to purchase equipment for KU labs on the Lawrence campus, he said.

Phillips said KU has set a goal of having the facility built and operating within four years.

Despite the state’s fiscal problems, supporters of the proposal said it was necessary to ensure that Kansas is able to tap into growing federal research appropriations.

“This is one of the shining lights of the session,” said the plan’s chief sponsor, Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing.