The president of Texas A&M University has announced plans for the expansion of the health science center in the Bryan/College Station biocorridor. Mark Welsh shared details of a recent board of regents vote that took place during their May 7th meeting, in which they approved the purchase of the former iBio building on HSC Parkway. This 139,000 square foot facility is described by Welsh as “one of the largest for plant-produced biologics in the world.” The new building will support research growth across the health sciences, including preclinical testing with dedicated vivarium space, staging for clinical studies, investigational new drugs, and first-in-human dosage development.
Additionally, the regents have approved Texas A&M’s operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which includes funds for pay raises in the form of a performance-based merit pool of four percent. The overall operating budget for the 2025 fiscal year is just over $3 billion dollars, with $2.5 billion allocated to the flagship campus, $472 million for the health science center, and $88 million for the Galveston campus.
A screenshot taken on May 20, 2024, from the Brazos Central Appraisal District’s property search website shows that the valuation of the former iBio building is almost $29.4 million dollars. This expansion signifies a significant investment in the growth and development of Texas A&M University’s health science center and further solidifies its position as a leader in health research and innovation.