University of Missouri Expands Medical Research Reactor Facility, Increasing Supply of Lifesaving Treatments for Various Cancers
- October 30, 2023
The $20 million, 47,000-square-foot addition to the MU Research Reactor (MURR) facility will support its growing workforce and drive more research and development in the field of nuclear science. MU’s MURR is the only producer of four medical isotopes in the U.S.
MURR has helped millions of cancer patients each year through its production of medical isotopes used in the treatment of liver, thyroid, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. The increased production capacity will stabilize and increase the availability of these isotopes, which are essential for advanced medical treatments, contributing to improved healthcare and saving lives.
According to the University’s press release, “Each year, 1.6 million patients benefit from medical isotopes produced at MURR, the most powerful university research reactor in the United States, operating at 10 megawatts, 24 hours a day, 6.5 days a week, 52 weeks a year.”
The increased research space and collaboration opportunities will strengthen the University of Missouri’s position as a leader in nuclear science and medical isotope research. This expansion is part of a larger plan for growth, as the University plans to build a new, state-of-the-art reactor (NextGen MURR) in the future.