Grand Opening Ceremony for the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Addition
GRAND OPENING
FRALIN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT VTC ADDITION
Oct. 12, 2021, 2 p.m.
Virginia Tech, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, and state officials cut the ribbon to officially open the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Addition at 4 Riverside Circle on Oct. 12, 2021, a major milestone in the 11-year history of the research institute that dramatically increases its research capacity and adds a vast array leading-edge facilities and instrumentation for taking on the challenges of brain disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolism and obesity, companion animal health, and infectious disease
Quick Facts
- 139,000-square-foot Expansion
- Building Cost: $90 Million
- Wet Lab Space for 20-25 Research Teams
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory for COVID-19 Testing
- Siemens 3.0 Tesla Prisma MRI
- MRI-Guided Insightec Focused Ultrasound [Read Story]
- 3D Printing Lab and Bioprinting Facility
- CT Imaging Core - Siemens Somatom Confidence CT Scanner
- Human Metabolism Research Facilities - Whole Room Calorimeters, Metabolic Kitchen
- Patient study and support facilities
- Small Bore Pre-Clinical Imaging Core - High-field Bruker MRI with PET Insert, and Micro PET/CT System
- Cellular and Molecular Imaging Core - Thermo Fisher Scientific Scanning Serial Block Face Electron Microscope, Nikon Inverted Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope
- Histology Core for Tissue Processing
- Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometry High Pressure Liquid Chromatography Core
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Cancer Care and Research Center
- Linear accelerator for cancer treatment in companion animals
- Virginia Tech Center for Biostatistics and Health Data Science
- Classrooms for Virginia Tech and for Carilion Clinic
- The William Jacob & Barbara Boyle Lemon Family Garden Roof
- Labs, meeting spaces, and offices to accommodate more than 400 additional researchers, students, and support staff
Exterior of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Addition, including the bridge leading to the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute facilities at 2 Riverside Circle
The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Addition, including the entrance to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine's Animal Cancer Care and Research Center
Atrium
The Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostic Lab has processed more than 150,000 COVID-19 samples from eight health districts in Virginia, the university community, and more than 650 businesses, nurses, medical and dental offices, construction sites, and schools
The building features laboratory space for 20 or more research teams. Currently, principal investigators in the building include: Jennifer Munson (above), Scott Johnstone, Jessica Pfleger, Junco Warren, and Yassine Sassi. Carla Finkielstein and James Smyth also conduct COVID-19 research in the new building
Next generation laser-based microscopes for visualizing life at unparalleled resolution
High-field MRI system with in-line positron emission tomography (PET) scanning for brain, cardiac, and cancer research
Surgical, medical, and radiation oncology services for veterinary cancer care and research
The metabolic kitchen features commercial-grade cooking facilities, including 16 stove burners, four ovens, two dishwashers, kitchen appliances, utensils and cookware, Nutrition Data System for Research access, and a dining and observational area
Bioprinter Facility
3D Printing Lab
A new 3-Tesla Siemens Prisma MRI was recently installed. The new MRI will guide Insightec Exablate Focused Ultrasound technology, delivering focused sound waves to small regions deep within the brain
Virginia Tech President Tim Sands observing the view of the William Jacob & Barbara Boyle Lemon Family Garden Roof
The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute's Hokie Bird in the atrium
Atrium
Atrium
Support Our Science
Our researchers, staff, and students bring their passion and knowledge to work every day to address some of the most pressing challenges facing human health right now - including the pandemic. Gifts of all amounts help us accelerate the pace of new discoveries to help patients with cancer, neurological and behavioral disorders, heart disease, and even rare genetic disorders. Private donations fast-track our progress and allow us to invest in the finest instrumentation and recruit world-class scientists to join our growing roster at Virginia Tech.