Congressman Cohen announces defense appropriations funding for UT's bioresearch

“Funding for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) is vital and I’m extremely pleased with this victory for the Ninth District,” stated Congressman Cohen. “This project has been a legislative priority for me. This appropriation will provide funding for this worthy project that saves lives, creates jobs and gives Memphis a competitive advantage. A properly equipped RBL will serve as a magnet for bioscience business and industry.”

“The University expects 30-50 scientific research positions to be created at the time of the RBL’s opening. According to the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, the new RBL will have an economic impact of $2 billion a year, creating 500 new jobs and $250 million in annual salaries.”

Memphis is the future home of one of only 13 regional biocontainment labs around the country where basic biodefense research is conducted. The lab is under construction on the site of the former Baptist Memorial Hospital on Union and is scheduled to be in operation by next summer. The RBL will be used for biodefense and microbial research related to serious emerging infections. To maximize the value and utility of the facility, state of the art equipment will be needed to help facilitate continued success with grant submissions.

Congressman Cohen continued, “I believe that this project will thoughtfully and creatively address many challenges facing the U.S. armed forces and will ultimately provide much needed support in advancing biodefense research within the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee.”

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, Congressman Cohen (202) 225-3265/ (202) 368-9275
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, (202) 225-3265 / (202) 320-2817