UNO Hosts Ceremonial Groundbreaking for $17.1 Million Biomechanics Addition

Highlights

• Principal benefactors Ruth Scott and the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation were recognized during the groundbreaking celebration.
• The $17.1 million addition will house the Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics, established in 2024 after UNO received an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
• The center’s aim is to develop innovative materials and devices to address the pressing challenges posed by vascular diseases.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today for a $17.1 million addition to the Biomechanics Research Building, celebrating philanthropic support for the transformative project. Recognized at the event were the principal benefactors, Omaha philanthropist Ruth Scott and the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation.

“Biomechanics research put UNO and Omaha on the map,” Ruth Scott said. “UNO is the only place in the world with a building like this. When I first met Dr. Nick Stergiou in 2011, I had no clue what biomechanics was, and, wow, look how far we’ve come!”

John Scott, vice president of the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation, said: “It is an honor for our family to champion this innovative research team. UNO Biomechanics continues to grow, providing an extraordinary return on our philanthropic investment. Yet the most profound impact will come from the life-saving advances that benefit Nebraskans and people worldwide.”

The phase three expansion, which is entirely privately funded, supports the Division of Biomechanics and Research Development’s rapid growth and rising national prominence. It will house, among others, the Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics (CRiB), established in 2024 after UNO received an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The center’s aim is to develop innovative materials and devices to address the pressing challenges posed by vascular diseases. Cardiovascular disease, which includes all diseases of the heart and blood vessels, is the leading cause of death in Nebraska, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

“Today’s groundbreaking for the Biomechanics Research Building addition reflects the extraordinary growth of a program that is shaping the future of health, science and innovation,” said University of Nebraska System President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “This progress is a direct result of the visionary leadership of Dr. Nick Stergiou and his remarkable team, whose dedication continues to elevate the work of the University of Nebraska. We are especially grateful to the Scott family and to Ruth Scott, whose generosity and belief in our mission have touched every corner of every campus in our university system. Their continued investment in our students, faculty and the communities we serve is a powerful reminder of what visionary philanthropy makes possible.”

The Biomechanics Research Building is located on UNO’s Dodge Campus adjacent to Caniglia Field. The 19,000-square-foot, three-level addition will be connected to the east end of the existing building. It will include laboratories, instructional space, offices, graduate student space and a collaborative space for students and researchers. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the program statement and budget for the addition April 11.

The Biomechanics Research Building opened in the fall of 2013, putting UNO at the forefront of biomechanics research with a first-in-the-world, stand-alone building dedicated solely to this field of study. The first addition, with 30,000 square feet, was completed in 2019. Construction of this second addition is expected to begin in May 2026 and be completed in early 2028.

Ruth Scott and her late husband, Bill, have provided philanthropic support for each phase of construction.

“This is the very definition of thinking globally and acting locally,” UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, said. “The Scott family saw a worldwide challenge in cardiovascular disease, understood the cutting-edge work already taking place in our Biomechanics Research Building and is now helping this institution take its work to new heights through their transformative generosity. This project will not only address a critical health crisis, but it will also reinforce UNO’s role as a leading public research university that innovates for the public good. This addition cements UNO Biomechanics as the destination in the world to teach, learn and discover in this vital field.”

Biomechanics is the study of forces that act on a body and the effects they produce. It is an intersection of physiology, anatomy, physics, engineering and mathematics to solve difficult problems in human health.

The Biomechanics Research Building’s new addition will include specialized labs to support the growth of the cardiovascular biomechanics research team, with the university committed to adding several faculty members over the next 10 years. The addition also will accommodate industry collaboration and other academic innovations in this emerging research area. UNO faculty are engaged in a range of research projects, from developing longer-lasting stents and grafts to specialized equipment such as exoskeletons to treat conditions like peripheral arterial disease.

The Scott family’s gift was made through the University of Nebraska Foundation. It supports Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, a historic effort to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support the University of Nebraska.

“UNO Biomechanics is the perfect example of how philanthropy can drive a great university forward,” said Brian F. Hastings, president and chief executive officer of the University of Nebraska Foundation. “Ruth Scott and the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation are true visionaries — they saw the potential of this project early on and gave generously to build UNO Biomechanics into a global leader. Only in Nebraska can that happen.”

What Others Are Saying

“This groundbreaking marks more than the expansion of a building — it’s a milestone for our college, our university and our city. It reflects our commitment to transforming lives through innovative teaching, interdisciplinary research and community engagement that reaches far beyond campus. The impact will be felt in classrooms, clinics and communities for generations.” — Neal Grandgenett, Ph.D., Lois G. Roskens Dean of UNO College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

“When a university and its community join forces, the results can be transformational. UNO Biomechanics is proof. We have created something that is more than a research building. We have created an amazing present, but we are also developing a tremendous future that will attract even more brilliant students, innovative scientists and global collaborators to Omaha. An immense thank you to Ruth Scott and the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation for making this a reality.” — Nick Stergiou, Ph.D., Assistant Dean and Director of Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Distinguished Community Research Chair in Biomechanics, UNO

“Cardiovascular disease is one of the deadliest health challenges worldwide. With this new facility, we will have the infrastructure to push boundaries in science and move faster toward real solutions. The urgency is clear, and now we have the momentum to match it.” — Alexey Kamenskiy, Ph.D., Professor, Director of Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics, Chair of Department of Biomechanics, UNO