Photo Provided: Cincinnati Children’s
Cincinnati Children’s has received $20 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs) from Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI) to help finance the construction of the Winslow Research Pavilion. This 45,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will include the health system’s Vaccine Research Center and the Discover Together Biobank. The research pavilion will be located at 2850 Winslow Avenue, near Interstate 71 in Uptown. Construction is underway, with completion expected by mid-to-late 2025.
Photo Provided: Cincinnati Children’s
The Cincinnati Children’s Vaccine Research Center has over 30 years of experience, which led to its selection as one of the 10 Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health. It’s the only VTEU at a children’s hospital. The center is a leader in vaccine clinical trials and played a crucial role in the testing of pediatric and adult COVID-19 vaccines. That resulted in life-saving vaccines being made available to the nation and the world. The Winslow Research Pavilion will incorporate the Vaccine Research Center’s outpatient and inpatient spaces under one roof, which will enhance research capacity and operational efficiency and attract top vaccinologists and long-term research funding.
Rendering provided by: Cincinnati Children’s
The Biobank facilitates the acquisition, processing, storage, and distribution of biospecimens for research studies. Cincinnati Children’s researchers work with biospecimens to seek treatments or cures for diseases. Relocating to the Winslow facility will enhance collaboration and expand research opportunities for the Discover Together Biobank, which is one of the largest pediatric biobanks in the nation. The Winslow Research Pavilion will also be home to a freezer archive used for long-term cold storage of research samples. Moving the freezer archive to the Winslow Research Pavilion will free up valuable lab space at Cincinnati Children’s main campus on Burnet Avenue.
“The Winslow Research Pavilion will enhance our efforts to connect scientists and clinicians, which enables faster translation of discoveries from the lab to directly impacting patients,” said Tina Cheng, MD, who is director of the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, and chief medical officer of the health system. “This emphasis on research is one reason Cincinnati Children’s is recognized as one of the most innovative organizations in America.”
The Winslow Research Pavilion will also feature a community outreach center, fostering connections between Cincinnati Children’s researchers and the local community. Uptown residents will have opportunities to engage in discussions on clinical research, infectious diseases, vaccine hesitancy and overall vaccination efforts. Collaborations with organizations such as the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST), the Research Participant Advisory Group (RPAG), the eMERGE Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Avondale Partnership Committee (APC) will promote health equity, build trust, encourage diversity in clinical trials and highlight career opportunities in healthcare.
The project is expected to create approximately 250 predevelopment or construction jobs and six to 10 new full-time permanent jobs alongside retaining 68 existing permanent positions. All roles will provide benefits and training opportunities.
"We are thrilled to support Cincinnati Children’s with $20 million in New Markets Tax Credits for the Winslow Research Pavilion. This facility will not only advance pediatric vaccine research but also strengthen our community through outreach, education and job creation. Together, we are building a healthier future, fostering diversity in clinical trials, and ensuring that everyone has a voice in the healthcare landscape,” Brooke Rapp, UCI Director of Community Development, said.
This project builds on Cincinnati Children’s ongoing expansion in Uptown. Cincinnati Children’s recently acquired the 3090 Exploration Avenue office building to boost research in the Cincinnati Innovation District.
For more information about how UCI’s NMTC program supports healthcare facilities in Uptown, click here. For details on other NMTC projects UCI has supported, click here. For inquiries, please reach out to Brooke Rapp at brapp@uptownconsortium.org.