WORCESTER – UMass Chan Medical School unveiled its newest facility at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 7, a 350,000 square foot research building which will be home to 70 principal investigators.
Researchers at the facility will focus on gene therapy, the neurosciences and molecular medicine.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, delivered the keynote address. The school presented Ghebreyesus with an honorary degree as well. Tedros is the first WHO director-general from the WHO African region.
“Although the building is new, its twin purposes—education and research—are not,” Ghebreyesus said. “They have always been central to the mission of this school, just as they have always been central to improvements in health globally, and to our work at the World Health Organization.”
Ghebreyesus also credited UMass with its focus on primary care, saying “WHO estimates that about 90 percent of essential health services can be delivered at the primary health care level.”
“This new education and research building will change the face of UMass Chan Medical School, and future classes of scientists, nurses and physicians will continue to benefit from the forward-thinking vision of Chancellor Collins and his team,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “We look forward to seeing the inspiring UMass Chan community grow into this new building where the possibilities will only continue to expand.”
U.S Rep. Jim McGovern, Massachusetts Sen. Robyn Kennedy, Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, and Worcester City Manager Eric Batista also attended the ceremony.
Shawmut Design and Construction managed the construction of the $350 million facility, while Architectural Resources Cambridge collaborated with ZGF Architects on its architecture.
See the video produced by UMass Chan Medical School about the building, below.
Images courtesy of Umass Chan Medical School
