This is just the beginning

Personalized medicine and precision health have become the basis for treating patients in the 21st century. A critical component is the ability to view the molecular basis of disease and how it changes upon treatment. Progress in this research brings us closer to innovative and effective treatments for the diseases so many of us and our loved ones face.

Theranostics is a combination of the terms therapeutic and diagnostics and is used to describe the combination of using one radioactive drug to diagnose and a second radioactive drug to deliver therapy for treatment.

Currently, MU is a leading institution for research in these areas, but the field is growing fast, and it is not enough to only keep pace. We are on the precipice, and MITC will be the difference between being at the forefront or falling to the middle of the pack.

Unprecedented collaboration

Mizzou is uniquely positioned for success because of all the resources available right here in mid-Missouri. Partnerships are what make greatness possible. MITC will coordinate and centralize research efforts already happening at the MU School of Medicine, MU Research Reactor, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, and even the College of Veterinary Medicine. A foundational piece of the NextGen Precision Health Initiative, MITC is how Mizzou moves from basic research to clinical translation, which means healing people and saving lives.

Collaboration will extend beyond Columbia, as we work with scientists from nearby powerhouses such as Washington University in St. Louis and small and large industry partners to brainstorm and perform the initial preclinical experiments that set the stage for translation into first-in-human studies.

MITC will be the hub for research and training of the current and next generation of visionaries in this field, where basic, translational, and early clinical research will be carried out. Students will also be involved in this work, and in doing so, prepare for careers in the ever-changing world of science and medicine.

Striving for excellence

Breaking new ground requires tools and resources. In order for MITC to build on MU’s prior successes and continue to lead in this field, we must have the best of both. Aging equipment currently used by our researchers can be a barrier to quick and accurate results, and support is needed to upgrade them. The expense will be more than offset by the benefits that come from being able to accelerate cutting-edge research, and updated facilities and tools demonstrate our commitment to excellence. High-tech equipment is also a critical component of attracting the best people to get us where we need to go.

Timely and innovative solutions

With the creation of the NextGen Precision Health Initiative, the University of Missouri has shown its commitment to excellence in pursuing the best possible health outcomes for the people of Missouri and beyond. With MITC as a critical component of this initiative, it is taking steps toward innovations in nuclear medicine that will set us apart as an institution and create treatments for diseases that, ultimately, will save lives. We are proud of what we have accomplished so far and want you to join us as we move forward. Because of you, we can accelerate these discoveries and help more people faster than ever before.

Questions? Contact Advancement!