University officials announced the completion of the Institute for Influenza Viral Research Monday morning.
According to university spokesperson Terry Devitt, the $12.5 million institute, located in University Research Park, will be a level three (out of four) biosafety lab.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared the university to run the 30,000 square-foot lab, which will hold viral pathogens.
According to Devitt, the lab's construction has been several years in the making and will support the research of UW-Madison professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka, who is a world expert on influenza.
The work that goes on there is going to add to our basic knowledge of [the] flu and other important pathogens, and will ultimately lead to new and improved vaccines for important diseases,"" Devitt said.
The state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation both contributed to the funding for the institute.
