University of Missouri officials confident in funding for medical complex

University of Missouri System officials on Wednesday said they were confident funding would come through for a $220 million medical research complex that has been labeled the system’s top priority.

The Translational Precision Medicine Complex will be a 275,000-square-foot facility by Hosptial Drive and Virginia Avenue. It will provide a place for patients to receive care and for researchers to work in the same setting.

UM System leaders provided a project update on the Columbia campus Wednesday. A complete video of the presentation is available in the player below.

System officials discussed building design, finances, marketing and government relations and more at the meeting .

The presentation included a picture of an early draft concept for the building. Construction will begin in the spring.

UM leaders also said the Translational Precision Medical Complex is only a temporary name, and they hope to find an easier one for donors and patients to recognize. The complex will provide a place for researchers and clinicians to work, but it will also be a place for patients to get advanced imaging and tests and participate in research. The complex will also provide a place for researchers to work with animals. MU Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships Elizabeth Loboa said the complex would provide a place for researchers to implement their work to help patients.

“The idea really is about benchtop to bedside. We want to have work, research that’s being done in this facility that translates to benefit the health and improve health care for citizens in the state,” Loboa said.

Loboa and other UM officials said the work done at the complex would help lower health care costs in part through eliminating unneccessary tests.

“If we can better diagnose and then treat more quickly someone who is suffering, say from a specific type of cancer or neurological disorder, then we’re catching it earlier and potentially we’re treating it better,” Loboa said.

Funding for most of the project has not been secured. University officials have said they plan to use a mix of money the UM System already has, state appropriations, donations and private parternships to pay for the complex.

System President Mun Choi said UM has talked about having a collaborative research space with Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital. He said UM is waiting on the White House to authorize $50 million dollars in spending for that collaboration, which if approved would mean the university would have $150 million dollars in place for the project through the VA and internal resources.

Officals are not worried, however, about finding enough money by the scheduled grand opening on Oct. 19, 2021.

“We are going to be seeking partners at the state level and the national level,” Choi said.

He said officials hope to get $5 million each year to fund continuing efforts in the facility.

Loboa also seemed confident they will find funding.

“We will get it done,” Loboa said.

UM System Vice President for Research and Economic Development Mark McIntosh said he does not have concerns about funding either.

“I don’t have any concerns at all because the university, once the university has decided to let the contract out in May, once the board has approved it, then it’s a go,” he said.

McIntosh said new leadership in the UM System helped push the project along.

“Once we had a system president and chancellor who really began to push the research agenda, this project has gone at an incredible pace,” McIntosh said.