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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been awarded about $14.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding from the National Institutes of Health to build 30,000 square feet of new buildings at its Bingham Facility.

The Bingham Facility is an animal research facility in Orange County. UNC is a leading center for research in hemophilia and muscular dystrophy, and research supported by the Bingham Facility focuses on these genetic diseases. The grant provides funding to build two buildings, to be completed by 2013, to house animals and support the infrastructure of the facility.

Because the funding is an economic stimulus grant, the project will create jobs and encourage the purchase of materials made in America. Since March 2009, not including this award, UNC researchers have received nearly $110 million in ARRA grants or awards. About $129 million in total ARRA funding is expected.

 “To receive a construction award in such an extremely competitive grant program is an achievement that reflects the extraordinary quality of work by our faculty researchers,” said Tony Waldrop, vice chancellor for research and economic development at UNC-Chapel Hill. “The researchers whose work will be supported by the Bingham Facility are national leaders in discovering new gene therapy for hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and cardiovascular disease. They give new hope daily to patients with these diseases.”

In addition, the University will fund and construct a building to house veterinary services, laboratories and offices. This work will take place alongside the construction sponsored by the federal government.

The Bingham Facility has been in operation since the 1970s. This funding ensures that the facility can continue to grow to meet research needs now and in the future, University officials said. The additional construction is consistent with a master plan prepared in 2004. At full build-out, the plan calls for the facility to span 103,000 square feet in several buildings clustered together on the 57-acre site.

Planning for the new construction will be completed in the summer or fall of 2011 and construction will be completed in mid-2013.

Bingham Facility contact: Bob Lowman, (919) 962-0656, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

News Services contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it