UI College of Dentistry seeks to expand lab space, make room for research growth

The University of Iowa is seeking permission from the Iowa Board of Regents to proceed with planning renovation and expansion of research laboratory space in the Dental Science Building in the College of Dentistry, where external research funding nearly doubled in the past five years.

Annual external research funding increased from $4.6 million in 2020 to $11.28 million in 2026, while College of Dentistry faculty submitted more than $120 million in grant applications during that period. The college also climbed from 24th to 14th nationally in funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and now ranks fifth in research funding among Big Ten dental schools.

That success is creating a new challenge: The wet-lab space that supports most of the college's funded research is operating at maximum capacity.

"This project is an investment in the university's commitment to advancing research and discovery while making the best possible use of our existing campus resources," says Clark Stanford, dean of the College of Dentistry. "By creating modern laboratories, we can recruit and retain outstanding researchers, strengthen collaboration across disciplines, and pursue emerging areas of research that have the potential to improve the oral and overall health of Iowans."

About 13,500 square feet of labs, largely more than 50 years old, on the first and fourth floors of the Dental Science Building's north wing would be modernized and provide more wet-lab and bench space dedicated to research. The most recent renovation to lab space was completed in 2011.

With its existing wet-lab space fully utilized, the college has little flexibility to recruit additional research-intensive faculty or build new research programs. That includes opportunities in areas such as oral cancer, which the college has identified as a priority for future growth.

The renovation would increase research space by about 80%, providing capacity for at least two additional research-intensive faculty members. An open-concept laboratory design would allow researchers to share space more efficiently and give the college greater flexibility to adapt as research programs and scientific needs evolve.

"This project would allow us to build on significant research momentum within the college and positions our faculty to contribute more fully to the university's research mission in the years ahead," Stanford says.

The project is estimated to cost $8.5 million to $10.5 million, with funding from donors, College of Dentistry operating funds, and central university funds.