U of I System approves funding for Drug Discovery and Cancer Research Pavilion in Chicago

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois today (Sept. 17, 2026) approved funding for the new Drug Discovery and Cancer Research Pavilion at the University of Illinois Chicago. The project’s estimated $232 million cost will be funded through state of Illinois capital appropriations, UIC’s operating budget and gift funds.

The facility will be part of UIC’s Illinois Innovation Network hub and will include wet labs, offices, a vivarium and research spaces for the College of Pharmacy, the UI Cancer Center and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ department of chemistry.

“The Drug Discovery and Cancer Research Pavilion reflects the power of partnership and the bold vision behind the Illinois Innovation Network. Through the support of Gov. Pritzker, the General Assembly, our donors and the university community, we are creating a destination for discovery that will strengthen Illinois’ leadership in innovation and help deliver breakthroughs that address one of the world’s greatest health challenges,” U of I System President Tim Killeen said.

The new facility will leverage UIC’s strengths and the power of cross-disciplinary research, UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda said.

“The Drug Discovery and Cancer Research Pavilion represents a major investment in UIC’s research enterprise and builds on areas where UIC already has significant strengths, including cancer research, drug discovery, medicinal chemistry and translational science,” Miranda said. “By bringing together researchers across disciplines, the pavilion will create new opportunities for innovation directly targeting health disparities and improving quality of life in the many communities we serve.”

The Illinois Innovation Network is a collaborative effort by the state’s public universities to drive innovation and economic growth throughout the state. IIN is led by the U of I System in partnership with the state’s nine other public universities.