Today, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer announced that the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) will receive $20 million from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to expand their cancer research capabilities.

The funding, which Congressman Luetkemeyer secured in the FY23 Appropriations funding, will support construction of a new 20-megawatt research reactor on the University of Missouri campus, complimenting and strengthening life-saving medical research taking place at the MU NextGen Precision Health facility.

“MURR is a one-of-a-kind resource for our entire nation, and I cannot overstate the impact of its life-saving research,” Rep. Luetkemeyer said. “The new reactor will focus on producing critical short-lived medical radioisotopes used in cancer treatments for patients across the U.S.”

The MURR facility currently houses a 10-megawatt reactor, one of the most powerful in the world, enabling research across several disciplines including cancer treatment, agriculture, archeology, and more.

“We are grateful for Congressman Luetkemeyer's leadership and support of crucial initiatives that benefit the citizens of Missouri and our country,” said Mun Choi, University of Missouri president. “This funding will expand life-saving medical research and establish a national hub of innovation in drug discovery. The University of Missouri Research Reactor plays a pivotal role, producing essential medical radioisotopes that are needed by countless cancer patients across the United States.”

“We have some of the brightest minds in medical research here in Missouri and the United States. We must utilize their brilliance to produce life-saving treatments here in America,” Rep. Luetkemeyer said.

NIST released the funds to MU NextGen Precision Health facility, marking a significant milestone in the life of the project and ensuring the United States remains a leader in the field of medical radioisotopes, nuclear medicine, and molecular imaging.