NHBC Announces Next Landmark Project: The NHBC Academic Laboratory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAS VEGAS, NV (October 22, 2025) – Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation (NHBC), the nonprofit behind the acclaimed Kirk Kerkorian Medical Education Building, today unveiled its next landmark project: the NHBC Academic Laboratory. This state-of-the-art, 34,000-square-foot, two-story facility will rise at 625 Shadow Lane in the heart of the Las Vegas Medical District, bringing new capacity for community health testing, academic training and life-saving blood services to Southern Nevada.
“Las Vegas will soon have more of the dedicated space it needs to support top-tier education in critical fields such as laboratory medicine, hematology, blood banking and molecular medicine,” said Dr. Barbara Atkinson, Medical Expert at NHBC. “To retain physicians in Nevada, we must prioritize providing them with hands-on experiences and training. By investing in comprehensive education, we are not only advancing the next generation of skilled medical professionals but also ensuring they are prepared to meet the needs of our community and provide ongoing, exceptional care for years to come.”
Grading on the site is underway, with groundbreaking and full construction slated to begin in November and completion expected in late 2026. The project carries a $44 million budget, funded by a $35 million State of Nevada American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant and a $9 million City of Las Vegas general funds grant. Sletten Construction is serving as the owner’s representative, with Whiting Turner Contracting Company as the general contractor and Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects as the project architect.
“The best chance we have to improve health outcomes in our community is by the collaboration and partnership between the public private and nonprofit sectors,” said City of Las Vegas Councilman Brian Knudsen. “Leadership demonstrated by the Nevada Health and Bioscience Corporation and University Medical Center, with support from the State of Nevada, sets the stage to create a healthier Nevada of which we can all be proud.”
The NHBC Academic Laboratory will house a range of essential services: a donor blood center on the first floor and, on the second-floor, specialized spaces for microbiology and virology, tuberculosis identification, stem cell processing, drug toxicology and a molecular lab. NHBC is currently working collaboratively with University Medical Center (UMC) to finalize details to operate the facility, which will deliver 24/7 health laboratory services with the latest technology, eliminating the need to send most tests out of state and keeping millions of healthcare dollars within Nevada. The laboratory will also play a pivotal role in supporting UNLV’s academic mission by expanding pathology residencies and fellowships that advance medical education, research, and workforce development for Nevada’s future healthcare needs.
By reducing test turnaround times from days to hours and providing the state’s first Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)-approved lab for high-complexity substance-abuse testing, the NHBC Academic Laboratory is expected to save the community more than $5 million annually while bolstering Nevada’s readiness for future public health challenges.
NHBC was established and tasked to complete the Kirk Kerkorian Medical Education Building but given its immediate success, the demand for new projects ultimately emerged. At its core, NHBC follows a public-private partnership model, with philanthropic investments, transparency and efficiency as its cornerstones.
The Kirk Kerkorian Medical Education Building – a state-of-the-art, 135,000 square foot facility – opened in October 2022. Developed by NHBC, the project broke ground in late October 2020 and took less than two years to complete.
For more information and future updates on the NHBC Academic Laboratory, visit nevadahbc.org.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES:
“This laboratory represents the next critical step in Nevada’s journey to build the health infrastructure residents deserve,” said James Waddoups, president and CEO of NHBC. “By supporting University of Nevada Las Vegas’ academic medicine programs and training the next generation of physicians and researchers, the NHBC Academic Laboratory strengthens the state’s medical education pipeline while expanding access to advanced diagnostic testing and innovation. Supported by the City and State, this facility will help reduce costs, shorten wait times, and improve patient outcomes across the region. The NHBC name on this building stands as a forward-thinking commitment to a future-ready Nevada built on innovation and care.”
“Throughout my time in the Legislature, investing in policies and projects that strengthen Nevada’s health care infrastructure has been one of my top priorities,” said Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro. “The NHBC Academic Laboratory represents exactly the kind of forward-looking initiative that will create opportunities for future generations of doctors, nurses, and researchers and ensure our state can meet its growing health care needs for decades to come. I’m thrilled to see this partnership with UNLV and UMC bring meaningful progress to the Las Vegas Medical District and, most importantly, the people of Nevada.”
“Nevadans deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare, and the NHBC Academic Laboratory represents a critical step forward in that endeavor,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “I’m grateful to NHBC and our local and federal partners for delivering this state-of-the-art healthcare facility.”
About Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation
Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation (NHBC) is a nonprofit organization with the mission of developing healthcare research, education, clinical assets and programming in Nevada. NHBC’s first project, the Kirk Kerkorian Medical Education Building in Las Vegas, opened in October 2022. In addition to ongoing community endeavors, the nonprofit has received additional funding to build – via a public-private development corporation model – the NHBC Academic Laboratory within the Las Vegas Medical District. More information at nevadahbc.org.
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Media Contacts:
For Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation – The Firm Public Relations & Marketing – 702-739-9933
Jesse Scott and KC Kappen: [email protected]