AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 21, 2026
UAB to Open Shelby Biosciences Research Building
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is set to inaugurate its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building on Tuesday. The new facility aims to expand UAB's capacity for biomedical and behavioral research in fields such as cancer, neuroscience, mental health, chronic disease, and aging.
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Planned
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m., marking the formal opening of the building. The event is expected to be attended by retired U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, university officials, elected representatives, faculty, staff, and community partners. The gathering underscores the building's significance for both the university and the broader research community.
Facility Features and Research Focus
The eight-story, 228,735-square-foot facility is located at 1500 University Blvd. It brings together researchers from UAB’s Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The building provides laboratory space for both experimental and computational work, shared equipment, and support areas designed to foster collaboration across various disciplines. Research conducted in the facility will address areas including cancer, neuroscience, mental health, aging, chronic disease, precision medicine, and artificial intelligence.
Funding and Development
The Shelby Biosciences Research Building was funded with $152 million in federal appropriations and $20 million from the Alabama Legislature. The federal funding was secured largely through the efforts of Senator Shelby before his retirement and was allocated in two installments of $76 million each. The second appropriation was part of the omnibus spending legislation signed by President Joe Biden on December 29, 2022. The federal funding was provided through the Health Resources and Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Construction and Occupancy
Construction of the building began on June 28, 2024, under the initial name Biomedical Research and Psychology Building. Williams Blackstock Architects, based in Birmingham, designed the facility, and Brasfield & Gorrie served as the general contractor. UAB's psychology department has already transitioned into the new space, according to a university job posting published on October 16. The new premises support both research and training initiatives across psychology and UAB’s health sciences programs.
Supporting UAB's Research Goals
The expansion of UAB’s research facilities aligns with the university’s stated objective of reaching $1 billion in annual research expenditures. University leadership has highlighted the importance of additional space and shared resources to strengthen collaborative research and deliver potential benefits for patients locally and beyond. The Shelby Biosciences Research Building’s flexible design and shared resources are intended to accelerate the translation of discoveries into novel treatments, diagnostic tools, and prevention strategies.
Source: alreporter.com.
