OHSU Receives Grant for New Biosafety Laboratory

The $8 million NIH award funds a three-year project to replace the university's 30-year-old research facility in Portland.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Life Sciences

OHSU Receives Grant for New Biosafety Laboratory

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Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has received an $8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to replace its aging biosafety laboratory. The new facility, situated on the Marquam Hill campus in Portland, is designed to support research into emerging infectious diseases.

Why it matters

The upgrade replaces a 30-year-old Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory, providing regional researchers with modern infrastructure for studying infectious pathogens. This investment aims to maintain the institution's capacity to investigate emerging health threats.

The current facility has operated for 30 years and contains two distinct workspaces. The project represents an $18 million investment to modernize these research capabilities.

The players

Oregon Health & Science University

A research university in Portland focused on clinical care, medical education, and biomedical research.

National Institutes of Health

The primary federal agency responsible for biomedical and public health research in the United States.

The details

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories are specialized facilities designed for the study of infectious agents that can cause serious or potentially lethal diseases through inhalation. These labs utilize controlled airflow and physical containment barriers to protect researchers and the surrounding environment. The current OHSU lab, which has served the institution for three decades, will remain functional throughout the three-year construction period for the new facility.

30 years ago: The original BSL-3 laboratory was constructed.
Soon: Construction is scheduled to begin at the Marquam Hill campus.
Three years: The expected duration for completing the new construction project.

The Tech Race

This development modernizes the BSL-3 capacity at the Marquam Hill campus, ensuring regional research infrastructure remains competitive. The project secures a critical node in the Pacific Northwest's infectious disease surveillance and study pipeline.

The existing laboratory will continue normal operations for the duration of the three-year construction project. The new facility will serve as a specialized resource for regional researchers investigating infectious disease outbreaks.

The takeaway

The project ensures OHSU retains the laboratory standard necessary to manage emerging pathogen research for the next generation. Observers should track the project timeline over the next three years to monitor the transition from the legacy lab to the new facility.