IHMC held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning for its Healthspan, Resilience, and Performance Research Complex, another step in the evolution of the IHMC CEO and founder Dr. Ken Ford’s vision for the not-for-profit research institute.
At the ceremony, Dr. Ford said the one-of-a-kind research complex will be where leading-edge research will take place focused on healthspan, resilience and human performance at all levels from a single molecule to the whole human. “Research teams will engage in clinical and translational research to advance the knowledge of across the entire spectrum, and they will focus on everyone from elite performers to chronic disease populations, from basic science, biological underpinnings to clinical outcome.”
The complex will enable “continuous interactions with collisions of people and ideas across many academic disciplines and at many local venues.” He added, “This will provide the underpinnings for our shared vision for Pensacola to continue to evolve as a habitat for innovation.”
The unique facility puts Pensacola and Northwest Florida at the center of a human and biological sciences economic ecosystem that did not exist before this $40 million research facility came out of the ground. It also serves as a draw for top research talent to the area from all over the world.
The three-story, 40,000 square foot facility was built by Brasfield & Gorrie and designed by DAG Architects partnered with Atlanta-headquartered Cooper Carry. The complex is literally designed to fuel the pace of discovery. The first floor is built around human participant testing and intervention, featuring rehabilitation facilities, biomedical sampling tools and performance testing laboratories.
Dr. Marcas Bamman, Senior Research Scientist and Director of Healthspan, Resilience, and Performance research at IHMC, said, “The first floor focuses on clinical and applied science. The third floor contains leading-edge wet laboratories for cellular and molecular science, which enable us to extend and better understand the effects we are having on people on the first floor.
He continued, “We now have the unique capacity – leveraging a range of scientists and technology – to deeply study and improve strategies that enhance healthspan, resilience, and performance for all.”
The science conducted here will be an economic engine, drawing in new funding in federal and industry-sponsored research. Partners in the project have included Space Florida and Triumph Gulf Coast.
“As chair of Triumph Gulf Coast, I have been proud of our investments in this project that will have a transformational impact on the economy, workforce and livability of Florida,” David Bear said.
“Our Triumph investments have been targeted to make a difference in education, industry certification, workforce training, business location and growth infrastructure. What IHMC represents in its research activities, grand vision and direction is precisely what Triumph Gulf Coast seeks to support.”
He added, “From here, bright minds from across the globe will join to collaborate, innovate, and develop ideas and technologies that will fundamentally change the way we act, move, respond and heal.”
To learn more, visit ihmc.us.