Students and researchers at New Mexico State University have something big to look forward to. NMSU is undertaking a major expansion of its Biomedical Research Building. The project aims to significantly enhance the university’s research capabilities in areas crucial to public health.
The National Institutes of Health and State of New Mexico are supporting the project through combined funding. According to NMSU, the investment will drive biomedical innovation and education in the region.
To recall, in October, the New Mexico Board of Finance and Administration approved $16.3 million in capital expenditures to double the building’s size. Voters and the NIH initially funded the project through a 2020 general obligation bond and a grant.
NMSU has developed the Biomedical Research Building in multiple phases. Phase I involved constructing the building’s shell. Phase II completed the interior buildout. The facility is now fully operational and supports ongoing research activities.
Phase III is currently underway. It will expand the building to accommodate growing research needs.
“This expansion marks an important step forward in strengthening NMSU’s biomedical research infrastructure,” said Berta Zubiate, university architect at NMSU. “By building on the success of the first two phases, we are creating a space that will support more advanced, collaborative and impactful research.”
Why the Expansion Is Needed
Workers started the expansion in November 2025 and plan to complete it by March 2027. The project will add specialized research environments, including a vivarium, aviary, and insectary. These facilities are essential for studying infectious diseases, cancer, and aging.
“These types of research environments are critical for advancing scientific discovery,” Zubiate said. “They allow researchers to better understand disease progression and develop new treatments that can improve lives, particularly in communities like those along the U.S.-Mexico border.”
The facility will serve a wide range of researchers and students. This includes those in the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, as well as the Departments of Chemistry and Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The shared space is expected to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across multiple scientific fields. University leaders say the expansion aims to modernize and centralize research operations.
“Currently, many of these research activities are dispersed across campus,” Zubiate said. “This project brings them together into a purpose-built facility that meets evolving scientific and regulatory standards.”
The expansion aligns with NMSU’s land-grant mission by supporting research that addresses health disparities in border and minority communities. It will also create enhanced training opportunities for students pursuing careers in STEM and biomedical fields.
“This is about more than just adding space,” Zubiate added. “It’s about creating opportunities – for discovery, for collaboration and for the next generation of scientists.”