Southern Miss Announces New Science Research Facility

The University of Southern Mississippi announced today its intention to add a sci- ence research facility in the heart of its Hattiesburg campus. The state-of-the- art facility will be con- structed south of the Walker Science Building and west of The Hub. Designed to support interdisciplinary work, the 93,000-square-foot building will strengthen the University's research enterprise by bringing together faculty, stu- dents and research part- ners in a collaborative environment focused on discovery across the bio- logical, biomedical and environmental sciences.

"This new facility will truly be a game changer for life sciences research at Southern Miss and solidify our standing as a leading Carnegie R1 University," said University President Dr. Joseph Paul. "We are especially grateful for our local legislative dele- gation for the work they have invested over the past several years, par- ticularly this year, to secure state funding that brings us near to seeing this facility come out of the ground." Unique to the region, the Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (CMCB) at Southern Miss supports interdisciplinary resear- ch that translates dis- covery into meaningful, real-world impact.

This work will continue in the new facility under the guidance of Dr. Vijay Rangachari, professor of chemistry and biochem- istry, who leads Southern Miss researchers to investi- gate the molecular caus- es of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The develop- ment of new approaches to combat infectious dis- eases is also underway, contributing to innova- tions that strengthen public health and expand the University's role in addressing global health challenges.

"This facility will enable us to expand the number of gifted faculty and doctoral students who drive these impor- tant funded research ini- tiatives," added Paul. "Our faculty and their students deserve a facil- ity that allows them to maximize their talents in service to the betterment of our state, the nation and the world." In addition to housing cutting-edge research, the facility will also become home to The University of Southern Mississippi's Biomedical Research Network and support statewide efforts in lead- ing Mississippi's IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence. "The Johnson Science Tower has served us well as the pri- mary teaching facility for more than five decades," said Vice President for Research Dr.

Kelly Lucas. "However, sci- ence has changed dra- matically over the last 50 years, and today's discoveries require sophisticated instru- mentation, specialized laboratory environ- ments, advanced com- putational tools and teams of scientists from different disciplines working together to solve complex problems. This new research building will provide that envi- ronment, while strength- ening Mississippi's abili- ty to compete and help retain talented students who want to build their futures in the state." This year, the Mississippi Legislature appropriated $30 million to the project, bringing the total state invest- ment to $87.5 million.

In addition to the funds already acquired, an additional $30 million is needed to complete the project. The University plans to complete the funding through federal assistance and private fundraising. "This facility rep- resents far more than a new building - it is an investment in discovery, innovation and the future of Mississippi," said Executive Director of the USM Foundation Stace Mercier.

"As we launch the private fundraising phase of this project, we invite alum- ni, friends and partners to help us complete a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will shape Southern Miss and its impact for decades to come." To learn more about giving opportuni- ties, visit USMFoundation.com/SR F or call 601.266.5210.