Setting the Stage for Modern Research
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a global leader in pharmaceutical research and development, is pioneering an innovative laboratory design called "FlexiLab." GSK's design approach combines large open floor plans with modular services and moveable furniture to create "loose fit" flexible research space that is highly configurable by the end-user. Key features include few if any walls, re-locatable fume hoods, and simple plug-n-play services that drop down from the ceiling. Researchers can customize FlexiLab space for a variety of uses, at no additional cost, simply by moving furniture around.

University of California, San Diego
The primary goal of the recently opened Rebecca and John Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is to create a patient-friendly environment while fostering a culture of interaction by bringing researchers, clinicians, prevention specialists, and educators under one roof in a "bench-to-bedside" approach to conquering cancer.

Lucrative Funding Requires Culture Change and Financial Commitment
When it comes to researching biohazards for the federal government, be careful what you wish for. The contracts are lucrative--the University of Washington has secured a $50-million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and has applied for another worth $25 million--but the money comes with tradeoffs and compromises that university researchers and administrators need to consider carefully. Even cutting-edge facilities might require upgrades, security doubtlessly will require costly enhancements, and everyone involved will need to accept a significant culture change that can be uncomfortable for those accustomed to working in the open atmosphere of university research.

New Management Approach Emphasizes Business Alignment, Benchmarking, and Measurable Results
DuPont is moving to a new model for managing its worldwide portfolio of laboratory and office space by transitioning its Facilities Services and Real Estate (FS&RE) function from a burden expense to a valued business partner.

Completing the Grant Application Process
The University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey's Regional Biocontainment Lab (RBL) is one of nine research facilities being developed throughout the United States as part of a federal Homeland Security initiative. Construction of the labs is supported by grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases through the National Institutes of Health.