OHSU Receives Grant for New Biosafety Laboratory
The $8 million NIH award kicks off a three-year project to replace the university's 30-year-old facility on Marquam Hill.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Researchers at OHSU are set to modernize their infectious disease research capabilities after the National Institutes of Health awarded the university an $8 million grant. The funds will help build a new biosafety lab on the Marquam Hill campus to replace a facility that has been in use for over 30 years.
Why it matters
The upgrade is designed to support regional research into emerging infectious diseases, replacing a laboratory that currently relies on only two workspaces. By investing in this infrastructure, OHSU aims to provide a updated resource for scientists working across the Pacific Northwest.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded an $8 million grant toward the $18 million cost of replacing an aging BSL-3 laboratory that has operated for over 30 years. It remains unclear exactly when construction will break ground on the project.
The players
OHSU
Oregon Health & Science University is a public research university located in Portland.
National Institutes of Health
The primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research.
The details
OHSU plans to construct the new biosafety lab on its Marquam Hill campus to better accommodate research into emerging infectious diseases. The current laboratory, which consists of two workspaces, will remain fully operational to avoid any research gaps while the three-year construction effort takes place. This investment represents a significant expansion of the university's capacity to serve researchers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Timeline
The current BSL-3 laboratory has been in use for over 30 years.
Construction is expected to last for a duration of three years.
Beyond the Bridges
This project marks a departure from the 30-year-old facility by modernizing the infrastructure used for high-stakes infectious disease research. It follows a decade of increasing focus on regional preparedness for emerging pathogens across the Pacific Northwest.
The construction activity will be centralized at the Marquam Hill campus, which may affect local traffic flow near the university over the next three years. Researchers and health staff operating on the hill should monitor future campus advisories for potential logistical changes during the build.
The takeaway
This $18 million investment ensures that the region maintains a high-level facility for critical infectious disease work. Watch for future site-specific updates regarding construction logistics at the Marquam Hill campus as the project moves toward its three-year completion timeline.
Further reading
For more updates on regional medical research, visit Life Sciences.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KXL Newsradio 750.
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