Wade Northington is hoping for more room to spread out his diseases.

Northington, director of the Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center, in Hopkinsville, Ky., has asked Gov. Ernie Fletcher to include funds for an expansion of the facility in any call of a special session of the General Assembly. The lab has outgrown its current building, Northington said.

The lab, the only one of its kind in Kentucky, examines dead cows, pigs, chickens and other animals for poisons and diseases. Lab workers also test live flocks of poultry or herds of cows for disease and conduct research on avian flu and anthrax.

“To have this level of science in Hopkinsville is amazing. You’re not going to find stuff like (the equipment) outside of the large research hospitals,” Northington said