Medical research building proposal moves to Kentucky Senate

University president Eli Capilouto announced at about 1:30 p.m. on Friday that the Kentucky House of Representatives voted 83-9 in support of the proposal to build a multi-disciplinary research building on UK’s campus.

The Kentucky Senate will consider the proposal next.

UK is requesting that the state fund nearly $132.5 million of the proposed $265 million cost.

UK president Eli Capilouto and interim vice president for research Lisa Cassis presented to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on Tuesday.

The research building will focus on reducing the number of preventable deaths, like those from heart disease, cancer and accidents, in Kentucky.

“Our mission — of education, research, service and care — has touched so many lives in so many ways,” Capilouto wrote in Friday’s campus-wide email. “The idea that we can do even more to impact the disparities that still affect too many Kentuckians resonated with our policy-makers.”