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That report estimated a potential med school at about $250 million, but said the university can “strengthen its statewide health and biomedical infrastructure over the next five years, positioning the state for the potential addition of a (medical doctor) program in the future.”

In the shorter term, the report said, the construction of the health science complex “would anchor a broader health sciences district on the flagship campus” and, along with other developments, help create the conditions to support a medical school in the future.

“The life and health sciences complex becomes a very important piece of building more and broader pathways for students who are interested in the health sciences field,” Ferrini-Mundy said, noting that it could be a way for more students to complete pre-medical studies or figure out whether they want to pursue fields in medicine.

According to the report, the complex would be an estimated 75,000 to 80,000 square feet and include the school of nursing, other health disciplines, biomedical and life science research programs and a health facility that would provide both community care and student clinical training.

Ferrini-Mundy said the location, timeline and design of the building are all still under discussion. Now that the congressional funding has come through, she said, the university will look to formalize those plans. The university also will need to do additional fundraising to support the full project.