Washington State University regents Friday endorsed designation of the Spokane campus as the university's center for health sciences education, and backed that step by putting a $70.78 million Biomedical/Health Sciences building at the top of their capital request to the legislature.

Supporters say the building would become the anchor of a a four-year medical school, and associated nursing and pharmacy programs already in place on the Riverpoint Campus.

"We have an opportunity to lead the way into the future of health care with a new campus and a new culture of collaboration," said WSU Spokane Chancellor Brian Pitcher.

The campus, says the proclamation, could become "America's next great academic health science center."

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