Fact Sheet: Jules and Gwen Knapp Center for Biomedical Discovery
Opening in 2008, the Jules and Gwen Knapp Center for Biomedical Discovery will provide 330,760 square feet of new research space for groundbreaking initiatives in the University of Chicago Division of Biological Sciences. This facility will house laboratories and office space for principal investigators, postdoctoral students, and graduate students in the departments of medicine and pediatrics, as well as the Cancer Research Center.
Innovative Research
A number of innovative programs will occupy the Center for Biomedical Discovery, including the Institute for Pediatric Molecular Sciences. This institute--the first of its kind in the country--is exclusively devoted to improving children's health through organized, team-based research of how genes influence disease. The institute will introduce an entirely new model of research that harnesses genomics, biophysics, physiology, and clinical studies to develop more advanced and effective treatments for pediatric diseases.
In the Center for Biomedical Discovery, researchers will work together to create tailor-made cancer treatments specifically designed for each patient. The facility will also become home to the Center for Metastasis Research. Although metastasis is known as a leading cause of cancer deaths, most research to date has been focused on treating primary cancers. In the Center for Metastasis Research, there will be a novel emphasis on the exploration of metastasis--which requires a very different approach than treating primary cancers. This center is one of only six centers in the country to focus on the study of metastasis.
Interactive Environment
The Center for Biomedical Discovery will be built to enhance the collaborative culture of its occupants. This state-of-the-art structure will include architectural features designed to frame an efficient and flexible work environment.
- Public and common areas will be built as double height spaces, permitting interaction between users of adjacent floors.
- Laboratory floors will be organized in two blocks to promote a highly interactive environment.
- Offices will be configured to allow views through support spaces and into laboratories, creating openness throughout the building.
Optimal Location
The center's location, on the northeast corner of Drexel Avenue and 57th Street, will facilitate travel to and from affiliated programs in the Center for Integrative Science (formerly the Interdivisional Research Building) and the Jules Knapp Research Center. Enclosed walkways on the first and third levels will connect the new building to the Biological Sciences Learning Center (BSLC). The more public elements of the building--clinical offices, divisional administration, and conference facilities--will be easily accessible on the ground floor.
More Information
- Medical Center
- Children's Hospital
- Center for Advanced Medicine
- Center for Biomedical Discovery
- School of Medicine
