The second of IBO’s biannual new laboratory roundup primarily focuses on pharmaceutical and biological research. Despite the effects of the global economic downturn, a number of new pharmaceutical and consumer goods testing labs have been announced or completed in China with both government and private support. In the US, although a number of private pharmaceutical labs are now being built to consolidate operations, new pharmaceutical lab construction and expansions are still underway. Outside of private companies, US universities are also a strong source of new lab growth for biological research, as well as nanotechnology research.

The number of pharmaceutical labs in China is currently expanding due to investments by the government and private interests. Beijing Vigoo Biological is planning to construct a vaccine research center in Beijing by December 2010. The 244,868-square-foot, $29.3 million facility will focus on vaccine R&D for H1N1 influenza, hepatitis and measles. Two of the major aims of the center will be to upgrade traditional vaccines and to conduct R&D for new vaccines and biomedicines. The center will also focus on pilot-scale production of vaccines. Furthermore, plans for additions to the center are already in the works, and include five pilot-scale production lines and an additional laboratory.

Taizhou, China, will be home to the Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Company’s Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine Industrial Project of National Bio-Industry Base (NBDP). Supported in part by the Jiangsu province government, the 215,278-square-foot facility will house a regenerative medicine technology center and a stem cell bank. The NDBP will be split into four centers: one for translating research to therapies, one for stem cell storage, one for stem cell product testing and one for interfacing with hospitals and offering clinical services. Information concerning the facility’s opening was not available.

China is also be home to two new consumer goods testing labs. In July, STR moved into its expanded 75,000-square-foot facility in Shenzen which will have 400 employees. The facility was built for the testing of hard and soft consumer goods, and, but is also capable of testing hazardous substances. This month, the French company CTC Groupe opened a 16,145-square-foot physical and chemical testing laboratory in Dongguan. The laboratory will offer REACH tests for Europe and tests for substances on the US List of Restrictive Substances, with a focus on leather goods and footwear.

Despite downsizing by major drug companies, new pharmaceutical labs in the US have been announced. Shire will build a 160,000-square-foot R&D center in Lexington, Massachusetts, to house offices and laboratories for its Human Genetic Therapies Division. According to Mass High Tech, the facility will begin construction in the second quarter of 2010 and will be completed in 2012. In Tampa, Florida, formulation-development firm CoreRx will increase its 10,000-square-foot facility to 80,000 square feet. In addition to having 15,000 square feet of open laboratory space, the new facility will also be equipped with eight formulation development suites and 11 new cGMP manufacturing suites. The company also plans to increase its workforce from 15 employees to 55 employees over the next three years. A completion date for the facility expansion has not yet been announced.

US universities are also increasing their biological research capabilities. This month, Texas A&M opened its Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building (ISLB). Researchers in the $100 million, 220,000-square-foot facility will focus on interdisciplinary sciences, such as bioinformatics, behavioral and structural neurosciences and structural biology. The ILSB’s 30 laboratories include a Biological Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Microscopy and Imaging Center, and X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory. In June, the University of Rochester in New York began construction of its Clinical and Translational Science Building, which will focus on cancer, cardiovascular and neurological research. Once construction is completed, the $76.4 million building will be occupied by 600 scientists and staff. In July, it was announced that New York will also be home to the State University of New York’s (SUNY) $20 million, 60,000-square-foot Central New York Biotechnology Research Center. Located in Syracuse, the Center will operate under a partnership between SUNY’s Upstate Medical University and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The Center will primarily be used for biotechnology research.

The University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) has recently made announcements about two medical laboratories. In June, UCSF opened the five-story 163,000-square-foot, Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Building. The $135 million building, located on the Mission Bay Campus, focuses on both basic and translational cancer research. Construction of UCSF’s stem cell research building, located on the school’s Parnassus Campus, is about a year away from completion. The building, which cost $123 million, will cover 75,000 square feet.

Nanotechnology research continues to be a driver of new lab growth at US universities. In April, Georgia Institute of Technology opened its most expensive facility to date, the $90 million, 190,000-square-foot Marcus Nanotechnology Building. The building, which contains 30,000 square feet of cleanroom space, will focus on nanotechnology research for consumer, medical and high-technology products. This month, Northwest Missouri State University opened the 46,679-square-foot Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In addition to 9,000 square feet of office space, the center, which is dedicated to laboratory research and teaching space, includes three research areas and a 16,000-square-foot academic wing.

New Laboratories:

Government: The US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)Organization: US Army

Location: Frederick, Maryland

Details: The $680 million, 800,000-sq.-ft. biodefense USAMRIID headquarters will contain 17,000 square feet of Bio-Safety Level (BSL) 4 space, and 34,000 square feet of BSL 3 space. The building will replace the previous USAMRIID headquarters in Frederick. It will contain technology for imaging, medicinal chemistry, and molecular studies, and will have a total of 952 employees.

Timeline: Construction to end in May 2014

Government: Research and Education Laboratory

Organization: Idaho National Laboratory

Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho

Details: Half of the 131,000-sq.-ft., $48 million laboratory will consist of science and engineering research labs, which will be suitable for large-scale experiments.

Timeline: Construction is expected to end in late 2011

Pharmaceutical: Center for Research and Development

Organization: Chiesi

Location: Parma, Italy

Details: The $103 million, 236,806-sq.-ft. Center will focus on the development of drugs for chronic respiratory diseases. Research will be conducted for all stages of the pharmaceutical research pipeline.

Timeline: Operative in 2011

Pharmaceutical: ImClone Systems Research Headquarters

Organization: Eli Lilly

Location: New York, New York

Details: The 91,000-sq.-ft. space will be occupied by 125 employees at the outset, and will be primarily used for cancer research.

Timeline: Occupancy to begin in June 2010

Universities: James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building

Organization: University of Utah

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Details: The $130 million, 200,000-sq.-ft. interdisciplinary research facility will contain open-bench research labs and four specialty facilities for small-animal imaging, biomedical microscopy, engineering microscopy and nano-fabrication.

Timeline: Completion expected in fall 2011

Universities: Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building

Organization: University of Colorado at Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado

Details: The 260,000-sq.-ft. facility, which cost between $120 million and $147 million, will be staffed by almost 600 employees. Research will focus on creating therapies for cancer, cardiovascular disease and regenerative medicine.

Timeline: Fall 2011