Washington State University announced the dedication of the Paul G. Allen Center for Global Animal Health at the school's Pullman campus on Saturday. --------------------------------------- Paul G. Allen and representatives of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation were joined today by Washington State University officials and other donors and special guests to formally dedicate the Paul G. Allen Center for Global Animal Health in Pullman. The recently completed 62,000-square-foot, three-story flagship research building is a first-of-its-kind research facility that will house a state-of-the-art infectious disease research center for investigating emerging diseases throughout the world. ... Seattle entrepreneur, philanthropist, and WSU alumnus Paul G. Allen announced his commitment of $26 million to complete the construction of the new facility and to provide operational funding for the school in December 2010, in conjunction with the public launch of the $1 billion Campaign for Washington State University. His gift will add more than 20 research scientists in Pullman and throughout the world by 2020. It also establishes research programs in Africa and builds laboratory capacity in joint exchange programs and graduate education between WSU and institutions in Kenya and Tanzania. The number of graduate students conducting research is also expected to grow to more than one hundred. "This school will not only educate students in the increasingly important field of animal health, it will be a hub for cutting-edge research and progressive ideas," said Paul G. Allen. "The school’s scientists will be at the forefront in the fight against diseases that affect both humans and animals, and their impact will be felt all around the world." --------------------------------------- -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter