Over the next decade,

and the

plan to build a new state-of-the-art facility on the medical center campus, leaders announced Thursday.

According to the release, the project — "building on the success of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and numerous other successful projects" — doesn't yet have a name but may include multiple new buildings to go up on the northwest corner of the current medical center campus. Research towers, inpatient care, expanded clinical trials, and new medical technologies that could become a magnet for medical tourists are just a few of the possibilities for the project.

The release states that while cost is still unknown, estimates are falling into a range of $1 billion to $2 billion. Architectural renderings and specifics are also not yet available, but the project is expected to replace some of the older campus facilities, "some of which are more than 70 years old."

Medical leaders said the new facility will offer an opportunity to secure future growth and prestige for the campus — and the Omaha-metro as a whole — which could fuel further expansion projects in the future.

"The project... will strengthen our position as a leading generator of new economic growth," Jeffrey P. Gold, chancellor of UNMC and the University of Nebraska-Omaha, said in a release. "We will train even more health professionals from around the world and recruit faculty and staff who are stars who will then attract more federal funding, corporate investment and patients from around the globe."

That could include addressing such global health concerns as Ebola.

"Since the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014, Nebraska Medicine has led the world in bio preparedness efforts," said James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. "This new facility would be a quantum leap forward in that regard. So we're not only advancing training, education, research, and patient care, but we are also surging forward in the emerging fields of bio preparedness."

The facility is also expected to further partnerships between the medical and public sectors that "may lead to new opportunities to collaborate with the federal government," the news release states.

"This type of collaboration could develop space, which would normally serve as inpatient care, which could also be available to treat military and civilian federal employees in times of national or global need," the release states.

Mayor Jean Stothert released a statement saying, "The University of Nebraska Medical Center is recognized as a leader in essential patient care, health education and medical research. UNMC's growth has created exceptional employment and development in midtown. The city is proud and excited to support continued campus growth and the opportunity to expand UNMC's role in the treatment of infectious diseases and other biological hazards."

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This is a developing story. Stay with 6 News for updates.

UNMC, Nebraska Medicine announcement WATCH: Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center announce an expansion partnership that will pave the way for a new state-of-the-art facility. Details developing: https://www.wowt.com/content/news/LIVE-AT-3PM-UNMC-Nebraska-Medicine-partnership-project-announcement-565848442.html Posted by WOWT 6 News on Thursday, December 5, 2019