This technical resource provides high-quality, productive, and timely in vitro and in vivo experimental assistance to a diversity of University of Missouri (MU) investigators at a reasonable cost.

As a shared resource, the RC will enable investigators to benefit from the technical expertise of Professor Jeff Smith, Ms. Lisa Watkinson, and Mr. Terry Carmack, drawing on more than 50 years of combined research experience in in vitro and in vivo animal experimentation.

The primary focus of the RC will be radiopharmaceutical development. In the RC, novel receptor-targeted ligands will be evaluated for biodistribution and theranostic potential via in vitro cell-killing efficacy using reactor-produced or other therapeutic radionuclides. The RC has the capacity to perform in vitro cell binding assays in a variety of human cancer and other types of cell lines. Equipment includes two BSL-2 approved biosafety cabinets, a CO2 incubator, a microtome, a UV-VIS/fluorescence plate reader, and spectrophotometers.

This core is located on the first floor of the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center and is accessible to all members of MITC. This core provides access to high-frequency ultrasound and photoacoustics (Visualsonics 2100); in vivo bioluminescent/fluorescence imaging (Perkin Elmer Lumina X5), laser speckle imaging (Moor FLPI-2); telemetry (DSI); metabolic cages (Promethion, Sable Systems Int.), video-based behavior analysis; hemodynamic monitoring and anesthesia, (micro)surgery and tissue collection facilities.

The Phenotyping Core also provides housing for mice and rats in controlled ventilation cages, a barrier room, and multiple environmental hoods. The DCRC is directed by Dr. Michael A. Hill, and the animal facility is managed by Mr. Mark Baepler.

Located in the Veterinary Health Center, a Canon Celesteion PET/CT supports the campus research efforts to develop novel imaging tracers for the study of cancer, neurologic disease, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and plant physiology.

A state-of-the-art, time-of-flight scanner with the largest bore available on the market, the Celesteion unit can scan animals from rats to large dogs and pigs, humans (if needed), and plants and soil samples.

The center is equipped with a dose calibrator and dual Shimadzu HPLC units with radiodetector for plasma/serum analysis. The center is supported by the Comparative Oncology Radiobiology and Epigenetics Laboratory, which houses a Biotek Lionheart FX automated microscope for live-cell imaging.

These resources are part of the larger Linnerson Imaging Center that also houses a Canon Aquilion One 640 slice CT with 4D, cardiac gating, and respiratory gating capability, as well as Canon 3T MRI. Joni Lunceford, NMT, operates the scanner and coordinates these studies. Dr. Jeffrey Bryan directs the center.

MURR is a multidisciplinary research and education center operated by MU with over 185 full-time staff members. The central focus of this research center is a 10 MW light-water moderated reactor that is the highest-power university research reactor in the world.

Five research-processing laboratories at MURR are dedicated to radioisotope production and research. One lab contains 12 lead shielded glove boxes suitable for processing up to several hundred mCi (in some cases Curie) quantities of radioisotopes. There are four research hot cells available for working with large (Ci) quantities of radioisotopes.

MURR is the only reactor in the United States with the operation schedule and capacity to produce isotopes at the level needed for the clinical application of a successful therapeutic agent developed in MITC. The director of MURR is J. David Robertson.

NextGen will be the hub for translational and early human studies. The Big PHiG initiative (Precision Pigs for Health) is a colony of transgenic pigs that can be utilized as models that are a bridge between rodents and humans.

Equipment at NextGen includes Siemens human MRI scanners (3T and 7T) and a Siemens human PET/CT.