Expanding Space for Vaccine Research

Rendering show the forthcoming VRC expansion, Bldg. 40A. Construction will begin this winter and is expected to continue through August 2024.

The pandemic put vaccines in the spotlight, though the plan to enlarge the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center at NIH was in the works years earlier. Now, with congressional approval to build an extension of the VRC (Bldg. 40A), construction is expected to begin this winter.

Bldg. 40, completed in 2000, was originally designed to accommodate a future addition, and the time has now come, to support the growing need for vaccine research.

The 5-story, 65,000 square-foot expansion will house BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories and administrative space with design flexibility that can adapt to the changing needs of translational and computational science. The addition, which is slated to be completed by August 2024, will bring the building up to the edge of South Drive and Convent Drive.

Rendering shows the forthcoming VRC expansion, Bldg. 40A.

NIAID responds annually to 4-5 emerging infectious diseases with medical countermeasures to treat, prevent or lessen the burden of disease. Bldg. 40A will facilitate and broaden this research into developing and testing vaccines for a range of global public health diseases including influenza, coronaviruses, Ebola, Zika and HIV/AIDS. Other research areas include vaccines for under-diagnosed syndromes and pediatric vaccines.