PITTSBURGH — The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center wants to start an $830 million center that would be the world's leading supplier of vaccines. Robert Cindrich, UPMC's senior vice president and senior legal officer, said the facility would create about 1,000 high-paying jobs.

UPMC officials pitched the idea at a federal hearing Friday at the U.S. District Courthouse. Democratic U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter called the hearing, in part, because of delays in the production of the swine flu vaccine for this fall.

UPMC is prepared to contribute $250 million if the government will spend $580 million to start the center.