Topeka ? State leaders Tuesday approved the issuance of $20 million in bonds to build a research laboratory at Kansas University’s Lawrence campus that will be used to develop drugs to fight cancer.

The unanimous decision by the State Finance Council, composed of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and legislative leaders, means KU can break ground on the west campus facility by the end of August.

The 35,000-square-foot facility represents the final-phase addition to the existing Structural Biology Center.

The addition will be used for researching and developing drugs to treat cancer and will work in collaboration with the Kansas Cancer Center at the KU Medical Center.

“This is pretty critical for continued research at both campuses,” said Theresa Klinkenberg, chief financial officer at KU.

George Wilson, associate vice provost for research at KU, said the lab would be used to try to discover new drugs and technologies to help patients and train new scientists.

“This is an excellent opportunity for students,” he said.

Wilson said the facility should be in operation by August 2007.

The facility will be part of a growing research complex on west campus. KU’s $40 million Multidisciplinary Research Building was dedicated in March.

The addition will be financed by bonds issued by the Kansas Development Finance Authority and funded by the KU Center for Research, a nonprofit foundation.