University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
11/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/04/2026 12:25
UI Health Care seeks Regents’ approval for cancer research expansion, adult hospital naming
Creating more cancer-focused research space
The University of Iowa is seeking design and budget approval for shell space to support cancer-focused research programs in the Carver College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy. The project would provide flexible laboratories, shared support spaces, research equipment, and collaboration areas.
Building out the shell space, located on the sixth floor of the College of Pharmacy Building, would support faculty and research staff recruitment, retention, and collaboration across disciplines while strengthening shared laboratory infrastructure between colleges.
A rendering of a collaboration area.
A rendering of research and lab space.
Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027, with completion targeted for summer 2028.
In September 2024, the university received permission to proceed with planning for a new cancer-focused research facility. Because of projected budget constraints, the standalone building is not advancing at this time. The university is instead evaluating opportunities like the proposed College of Pharmacy build-out to provide cancer-focused and other research space within existing facilities across the health sciences campus.
Renaming the adult hospital at the university campus after Richard O. Jacobson
UI Health Care is requesting permission from the Iowa Board of Regents to transfer the naming recognition previously approved for the planned patient care tower to the existing adult hospital at the university campus in honor of Richard O. Jacobson and his philanthropic legacy.
In 2022, the Richard O. Jacobson Foundation committed a transformational $70 million gift to the University of Iowa - the largest in the university's 175-year history - to support the planned patient care tower, which at the time was part of the university's Master Facilities Plan. In recognition of this gift, the Board approved naming the tower for Richard O. Jacobson on Feb. 23, 2022.
However, due to a challenging financial environment and the need to increase inpatient bed capacity on an accelerated timeline, the board approved a revised capital plan on Sept. 17, 2026. The revised plan shifts from constructing the tower to modernizing and expanding spaces across the health system. This approach will enable UI Health Care to expand services to Iowans more quickly, allowing an estimated 23,000 additional patients to receive high-quality care closer to home and sooner than originally planned.
To appropriately honor Richard O. Jacobson's generous contributions and philanthropic legacy, UI Health Care is asking the Iowa Board of Regents to transfer naming recognition previously approved for the planned patient care tower to the existing adult hospital on the UI Health Care university campus.
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