The Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech is an instrument of strategic university investment that is taking a problem-centric approach to tackle environmental and life sciences-related global challenges. Residents of the institute's five flagship buildings are automatically considered affiliated faculty members and all other life science researchers on campus are invited to become affiliated faculty members. Affiliated faculty members are given resources necessary to explore new, innovative science that benefits people in the New River Valley, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the world.