Missouri’s commitment to scientific advancement and large, turn-key labor pool have helped make it the top destination for biosciences facility development. In addition to being home to some of the most prestigious hospitals, medical schools, and bioscience companies in the country, Missouri boasts a low-cost business climate and facilities devoted to biosciences research and commercialization across the state. Missouri also ranks as a top producer of soybeans, cotton and beef, and has one of the best transportation networks in the country.

• More plant scientists reside and work in St. Louis than anywhere else in the world (Missouri Biotechnology Association).
• Missouri is home to one of the top veterinary schools in the U.S. at the University of Missouri—Columbia.
• The Washington University School of Medicine was ranked 4th in the nation in 2010 by US News and World Report.
• Washington University scientists at the Genome Sequencing Center were the first in the world to decode the complete DNA sequence of a Cancer patient (Missouri Biotechnology Association).
• The Kansas City Metropolitan Community College received $2.2 million to develop programs to prepare the region's workforce for in-demand careers, including new and expanded animal health curricula including new degrees and certificates in pet care and animal research.
• Seven high schools in Missouri were the first in the nation to earn national certification for their Project Lead The Way Biomedical Science Programs.  The programs augment existing high school science and math college-preparatory programs to establish a solid background in biomedical science. Thirteen Missouri public high schools have adopted the Biomedical Sciences program since it began in five pilot schools in 2007-08.
• Thirty-seven Missouri colleges and universities offer Bachelor’s degrees or higher in Biological or Biomedical Science.
• 86.9% of Missouri's population over 25 (over 3 million people) has attained a high school diploma or higher, exceeding the national average of 85.6%.

• Missouri is:
  • 2nd in the U.S. for farms, with 108,000.
  • 2nd in the U.S. for cattle operations, with 59,000.
  • 5th in the U.S. for acres of soybeans planted and harvested with 230,550,000 bushels.
  • 6th in the U.S. for cotton planted and harvested.
  • 12th in the U.S. based on the value of agricultural product (NASS).
• Missouri has the 9th best transportation network in the nation based on value of goods shipped by air, land and water, the availability of air travel, and the quality of roads (CNBC).

• The Biosciences Industry in Missouri is comprised of over 1,000 Bioscience companies employing 29,651 Missourians.
• Nearly one-third (32%) of the $19 billion global animal health industry is represented in Kansas City (Brakke Consulting). 
• Missouri ranked 1st for Life Science Facility development in 2008 according to Site Selection Magazine.

Missouri Bioscience companies include:

ABC Labs: (Columbia) Analytical Bio-Chemistry (ABC) Laboratories has over 40 years of experience providing contract services to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

bioMérieux Inc.: (St. Louis) A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for over 45 years, bioMérieux is present in more than 150 countries through 39 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors.

Cardinal Scale: (HQ Joplin) Cardinal Scale Manufacturing Company produces an extensive range of scales for all kinds of industries. These include medical, food service, truck, livestock and more. 

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica:  (HQ St. Joseph) Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica develops and markets a broad range of products and technologies worldwide for horses, cattle, swine and companion animals.

Bunge North America: (HQ St. Louis) Bunge is a leading exporter and domestic supplier of soybean, corn, wheat, sorghum, canola and rice in the United States. The company’s business has expanded into oilseed processing, edible oils and shortenings, and dry corn milling, with a product line that includes animal feed, breakfast cereals, snack foods, and breads.

Cerner Corporation: (HQ Kansas City) Cerner is the leading U.S. provider of health care information technology solutions.

Covidien: (St. Louis) Covidien is a leading manufacturer of medical devices and supplies, diagnostic imaging agents and pharmaceuticals. In 2008, Covidien announced a $100 million expansion of its St. Louis County facilities.

Express Scripts, Inc.:  (HQ St. Louis) Express Scripts, Inc. is a pharmacy benefit management company providing a range of services to its clients, including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, workers’ compensation plans and government health programs.

Mars Petcare U.S.: (Kansas City) Mars Petcare U.S. is one of the fastest growing pet food manufacturers in the United States. It manufactures products for dogs and cats marketed under the Pedigree, Whiskas, and Sheba brands. In 2009, Mars Petcare relocated its R&D operation to a production facility in Kansas City.

Monsanto: (HQ St. Louis) Monsanto helps farmers grow more crops by applying biotechnology and genomics to seeds and herbicides. It produces seeds that tolerate Roundup (its flagship product) and resist bugs. Monsanto estimates that more than 70% of the world's herbicide-resistant crops bear its stamp. Roundup is the world's #1 herbicide.

Nestle-Purina PetCare Company: (HQ St. Louis) Nestlé Purina PetCare is the pet food division of Swiss-based Nestlé, following a merger in 2001, between the Nestlé's Friskies PetCare Company and the American Ralston Purina Company. Nestle Purina Petcare Company’s brands include Alpo, Beneful, Fancy Feast, and Beggin’ Strips.

Sanofi-Aventis: (St. Louis and Kansas City) Sanofi-Aventis is one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, specializing in seven major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases, central nervous system, internal medicine, and vaccines.

Sigma-Aldrich: (St. Louis) Sigma-Aldrich produces chemical and biochemical products for scientific research. The Company's targeted knockout rats, with permanent, heritable gene mutations, were named one of the Top Ten Innovations for 2009 by The Scientist Magazine.

Sinclair Research Center: (HQ Columbia) Sinclair is a biomedical research facility offering the full range of preclinical (nonclinical) research services to the animal and human health industries.

The Solae Co.: (HQ St. Louis) Solae was formed as a joint venture between DuPont and Bunge in 2003 to develop, produce, and market soy-based food ingredients. With more than 3,500 customers in 80 countries across the globe, the company manufactures soy protein for beverages and meatless foods as well as soy-based polymers for use in the paper industry.

Stereotaxis: (HQ St. Louis) Stereotaxis, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets cardiology instrument control system for use in hospitals to treat arrhythmias and coronary artery disease in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA: (St. Joseph, Kansas City, Mexico) TEVA Pharmaceuticals in Kansas City and Mexico manufactures and markets generic pharmaceutical products. Teva Animal Health in St. Joseph is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of veterinary pharmaceutical products for North America and the worldwide animal health community.

Missouri is home to the following Bioscience Research Centers:

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center: (St. Louis) Research at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is focused on biofortification of foods and feeds, crop drought tolerance, genetic mechanisms for pest and pathogen control, and the development of plants as biorenewable resources.

IDEXX Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (RADIL):  (Columbia) Located on the campus of the University of Missouri, the laboratory is one of the two largest research animal diagnostic laboratories in the U.S. and the largest at an academic institution.

MRIGlobal: (Kansas City) Formerly known as the Midwest Research Institute, MRIGlobal has earned international recognition for its health research services supporting the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, veterinary medicine, agrochemical, and related industries worldwide.  MRI develops and evaluates seed coating and pelletizing processes incorporating desired chemical or biological treatments.

Missouri Botanical Gardens : (St. Louis) With nearly 50 Ph.D. botanists, the Garden conducts the most productive and geographically widespread botanical research program in the world. The Garden’s Herbarium is one of the world’s outstanding research resources for specimens and information on bryophytes and vascular plants, containing over 6 million specimens.

Missouri  State University Center for Applied Science and Engineering (CASE): (Springfield) CASE is committed to the development and support of advanced biotechnology industries in Missouri. Target areas of interest include: medical instruments and materials, bio-processing techniques and equipment, agribusiness research and development, and chem/bio sensors and systems.

National Center for Soybean Biotechnology: (Columbia) The U.S. Congress selected the University of Missouri to host the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology (NCSB) based on their interdisciplinary research on soybean genetics, genomic, and related sciences. The ultimate goal of the NCSB is to provide innovative molecular approaches that can be applied toward soybean improvement.

Siteman Cancer Center: (St. Louis) The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine is an international leader in cancer treatment, research, prevention, education and community outreach.

St. Louis Institute of Nanomedicine: Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, the University of Missouri—St. Louis, and St. Louis Community College recently formed the St. Louis Institute of Nanomedicine Working Group. The Working Group received a grant from the Missouri Life Sciences Research Fund to pay for four pilot projects a year for research on applying advances in nanotechnology to the treatment of human diseases.

St. Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development: The Center is designed to conduct basic and clinical research on new vaccines and biologics. It houses SLU scientists working in five key research areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and biodefense/vaccine development.

Stowers Institute for Medical Research: (Kansas City) The Stowers Institute conducts basic research on genes and proteins that control fundamental processes in living cells to unlock the mysteries of disease and find the keys to their causes, treatment, and prevention.

University of Missouri--Columbia Center for Agroforestry: The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA), established in 1998, is one of the world's leading centers contributing to the science underlying agroforestry. The mission of the Center is to support the long-term future of the family farm and play a part in the revitalization of rural America. The Center’s research focuses on two major themes: 1) Providing scientific evidence that documents many of the environmental benefits of agroforestry practices (e.g., improving soil, water and air quality); and 2) Demonstrating the viability of niche crop production to augment the economic opportunities on the family farm.

The University of Missouri--Columbia Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center: This recently opened, state-of-the-art center promotes interdisciplinary research aimed at increasing food production and quality, improving human and animal health, and enhancing environmental quality.

The University of Missouri--Columbia Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center: Researchers at the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center investigate areas of study such as microcirculation, neural control of circulation, membrane transport and exercise biology focus scientists' expertise on common problems. Investigators make use of the Center's cell culture laboratory and state of the art imaging core facilities.

The University of Missouri—Columbia Delta Research Center: (Portageville) Much of the research conducted at the 1,024 acre Delta Research Center is focused on crop production and management, specifically cotton and rice production. Scientists at the Delta Center also conduct research on soybean cropping systems, weed, insect and disease control in all crops and variety evaluations, and have gained recognition for developing improved soybean varieties, especially those with soybean cyst nematode resistance.

The University of Missouri--Columbia International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine: The Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine is dedicated to the discovery and application of fundamental and translational medical science based upon previously unexplored chemistry combined with nanotechnology and the biosciences.

The University of Missouri—Columbia National Swine Resources and Research Center: The National Swine Resources and Research Center is the only center in the United States dedicated to the research of swine genetics and reproduction as a comparative model. The center cloned the first pig in 1989 and was the first to sequence the DNA of a pig in 2006. In 2007, the center was the first to reproduce a pig using in vitro fertilization.

The University of Missouri--Columbia Plant Transformation Core Facility: The goal of the Plant Transformation Core facility at the University of Missouri is to enhance both basic and applied research in plant biology for the public. Current research includes improvement of maize and soybean transformation, efficiency of RNAi in soybeans, and mapping mutant soybean lines.

The University of Missouri--Columbia Research Reactor: MURR is the largest university-operated research reactor in the country, specializing in developing innovative techniques for the diagnosis and cure of cancer and other diseases.

The University of Missouri—Kansas City Center of Excellence in Mineralized Tissue:   The Center specifically conducts research to prevent and treat diseases of mineralized tissue which includes teeth, cartilage, bone and muscle tissue. Research at the Center is applied to biomaterials, medical devices, diagnostics, imaging and veterinary medicine.

The University of Missouri—St. Louis Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center:   The Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, initiated by UMSL in cooperation with the Missouri Botanical Garden almost 20 years ago, has grown into one of the world's preeminent centers for education and research in tropical biology.

Washington University Genome Sequencing Center: (St. Louis) The center was chosen as one of the first three sites to begin full-scale human sequencing as part of the Human Genome project. Scientists there were the first in the world to decode the complete DNA sequence of a cancer patient. 

Research hospitals in Missouri include:

• Barnes-Jewish Hospital: (St. Louis) Barnes-Jewish ranked 11th in US News & World Report's 2011 listing of America's Best Hospitals.
• St. Louis Children's Hospital: One of America's Best Children's Hospitals (U.S. News & World Report).
• Children's Mercy Hospital: (Kansas City) One of America's Best Children's Hospitals (U.S. News & World Report). 
• St. Luke's Hospital: (Kansas City)  One of America’s Best Hospitals for Urology (U.S. News and World Report).

 

• Missouri ranks 3rd for percent of patents in Biopharmaceuticals from 1993-2003 (Milken Institute).
• Missouri is a hub for leading agricultural associations including the National Corn Growers Association, the American Soybean Association, the U.S. Soybean Export Council, the National Biodiesel Board, and the American Angus Association. These associations provide their members with networking opportunities, information sharing and marketing. 
• Missouri is home to the nation's largest dairy cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America, based in Kansas City.
• The Kansas City region is fifth per capita in clinical trials conducted (Missouri Biotechnology Association).

Missouri is also home to the following incubators and research parks:

The Center for Emerging Technologies: (St. Louis) The CET develops start-up companies in biotechnology, biomedical engineering, advanced materials, and electronics. Stereotaxis, the developer of an advanced cardiology control system for use in surgery, became the first of its companies to complete a public offering.

The Center of Research, Technology, and Entrepreneurial Exchange (CORTEX):  (St. Louis) Cortex is intended to house companies graduating from the incubator and companies attracted to the region because of the proximity to the research institutions.

Christopher S. "Kit" Bond Science and Technology Incubator: (St. Joseph) In conjunction with Missouri Western University, this 25,000 square feet incubator is also home to the Institute for Industrial and Applied Life Sciences which will enhance training and wetlab space available within the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor.

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Bio-Research and Development Growth Park : (St. Louis) The Bio-Research and Development Growth (BRDG) Park adjacent to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center houses St. Louis Community College’s Center for Plant Life and Sciences. Other tenants at BRDG Park include Divergence, Phycal, Monsanto, and the Nidus Center.

Discovery Ridge: (Columbia) Discovery Ridge leverages the University of Missouri's resources in life sciences, in the areas of agriculture, health, veterinary medicine, bioengineering, nutrition, biology and environmental services.

Jordan Valley Innovation Center: (Springfield) The Jordan Valley Innovation Center at Missouri State University is comprised of the Center for Applied Science and Engineering (CASE) and the Center for Biomedical and Life Sciences (CBLS), at Missouri State University is committed to the development and support of advanced biotechnology industries in Missouri.

MRIGlobal's Research Farm: (Butler) The new facility serves as an extension of MRI's field station in Grandview, Missouri and supports expansion in the research of new technologies in crops, farming practices, agriculture products and the growing interest in improved nutrition and natural products.

Missouri Research Park: (St. Louis) Officially opened in 1985, the Park now has more than 130 acres developed for high-tech and research facilities and houses 17 tenant companies that employ more than 2,000 people.

Missouri Technology Corporation: (Jefferson City) The Missouri Technology Corporation is a private, non-profit entity established to enhance and expand the potential for technologically-based employment to drive Missouri's job growth in the coming decades. MTC oversees the operations of ten Innovation Centers in the state, works closely with the University of MIssouri and the Missouri Federal and State Technology Program, and provides grants and direct seed capital to businesses and organizations that conduct significant research and development or demonstrate the promise of growth or job creation.

The University of Missouri Technology Park: (Fort Leonard Wood) The Tech Park, located on an active Army post, collaborates with the University of Missouri on technology transfer and is focused on biochemical, homeland security and GIS projects.

The University of Missouri—Columbia Life Sciences Business Incubator at Monsanto Place: The incubator is able to accommodate a range of tenants specializing in the fields of biomedical technologies, information technology, renewable resources/green technology and nanotechnology as well as more traditional consumer based businesses.