School begins building new stem cell center

UCI will break ground Friday morning for a new building dedicated to researching stem cells.

While the campus’ Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center has already led breakthroughs in the field, the building will unify research in one place.

When finished, the building will be four stories and cover more than 100,000 square feet. It will house the research center, clinical and laboratory-based researchers, a course on stem cell techniques, a master’s program in biotechnology focusing on stem cells, and other educational programs. In addition to the core stem cell laboratory, the building will also have clinical space and resources to care for patients.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday at UCI next to Hewitt Hall, and the building is scheduled for completion in summer of 2010.

— Michael Alexander