Artist’s depiction of the planned Radioisotope Science Center at Discovery Ridge in Columbia, Mo. (Image: BSA LifeStructures)
The Department of Energy’s Office of Science has committed $20 million to the University of Missouri that—with a matching $20 million from the state government—will support construction of a Radioisotope Science Center (RSC) at the university’s Discovery Ridge research park in Columbia, Mo., projected for completion in early 2029. The new facility will pair the DOE’s Office of Isotope R&D and Production (IRP)—formerly known as the DOE Isotope Program—with the decades of expertise developed at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR).
According to the DOE and the university, the RSC will be used for research, development, and production of radioisotopes produced at MURR and at DOE reactors. The RSC will process radioisotopes for national security applications, nuclear medicine, and scientific research that will “be distributed through the DOE IRP’s National Isotope Development Center to support research and commerce.”
The plan: The 33,500-square-foot facility will be outfitted with hot cell production areas for FDA-compliant current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) and non-cGMP radioisotope processing. It will also hold laboratories for quality control testing, research and development, office space, cleanrooms, and a shipping and receiving area according to the DOE.
In addition to its isotope production mission, the RSC will “enable more rapid discovery of new radioisotopes and improved production techniques for cancer treatments and industrial uses” and will also “enable significant workforce development in radioisotope science.”
Quotable: Matt Sanford, executive director of MURR, said, “The RSC combines the expertise of Mizzou and the IRP and will strengthen the nation’s supply of critical radioisotopes.” He continued, “We are excited about the innovative building design, which incorporates both organizations' decades of experience in radioisotope development and production.”
“The RSC directly leverages decades of combined experience from Mizzou and[DOE-IRP], and, with the vital support from the state of Missouri, will significantly strengthen our domestic supply of critical radioisotopes,” said Christopher Landers, DOE-IRP director. “We anticipate this innovative facility to deliver extraordinary impacts for our Nation.”
“We are proud of our strong relationship with the Department of Energy and our history of meeting the national need for critical medical isotopes,” said chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators Todd Graves. “The Radioisotope Science Center will be a catalyst for scientific research and innovation and further establishes Mizzou as a leader in nuclear science for the nation.”
