The University's ability to conduct high-caliber cancer research may hinge on whether Virginia voters approve the higher education bond referendum at the polls tomorrow.
Funds still are pending for the construction of a new $49.2 million medical research building, MR-6, at the University Medical Center.
Nearly half of the projected $49.2 million price tag would be paid with $24.2 million in bond referendum funds. The other $25 million would come from private sources and grant money, said Leonard W. Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Although the $24.2 million chunk represents over a third of the $68.3 million earmarked for the University, officials say the project's importance to the school and Commonwealth justifies its funding.
"Compared to many institutions we have very limited space," Adler said. "At times, space limits what we can do."
One of the primary functions of MR-6 would be to house a cancer research program, an important mission that borders almost on an obligation, Sandridge said.
The University is "responsible to do all it can to discover cures for diseases," Sandridge said, adding that it is unacceptable the University is not fulfilling this calling "because of lack of space."
If the University "wants to be a top-ranked research institution, [the MR-6 project] is very important," Biology Prof. Paul Adler said. The shortage of research facilities also hurts faculty recruitment, he added.
Leading University researchers say the construction of MR-6 and expansion of the cancer research program is "very critical."
Michael Weber, director of the Cancer Center at the Medical School, said the University is "behind the curve" in cancer research when compared to other leading institutions like the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Johns Hopkins University.
Recent advances in cancer research have led researchers to begin targeting specific forms of cancer like breast and prostate cancer, Weber said.
"We're at the point where we're ready to apply discoveries of the last 10 years," Weber said. "But we have no place to organize research teams."
The new building would be connected to MR-4 and MR-5 in the Medical Center and would serve purely as a research facility.
Although University Architect Pete Anderson has drawn up building plans, the Executive Vice President's Office said the project has no definitive start date or deadline.
"It depends on how quickly the money is raised," Weber said.
He also reiterated what has become a war cry for faculty and student groups: For today's University, the higher education bond is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
"I'd encourage everyone to go out and vote for the bond," Weber said. "Our future depends on it."
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