University of Louisiana's New Iberia Research Center Breaks Ground on BSL-3 Lab

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette began construction in June of 2024 on a significant expansion of the New Iberia Research Center, the nation's largest facility for nonhuman primates. Creating an onsite BSL-3 laboratory for the study of infectious diseases and select agents, the $25 million project will enable the development of novel vaccines, diagnostics, and mitigation solutions. Paul J. Allain designed the addition to meet and exceed the standards of the NIH Design Requirements Manual, as well as abiding by the extensive guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The $22 million Iberia BioInnovation Accelerator is also being created to support pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. Together, the two buildings will anchor the Bieaux Tech Technology Hub when they reach completion in mid-2026.