University of Missouri Research Reactor Center - History and Overview

History and Overview

In 1959, University President Elmer Ellis proposes a research reactor, understanding that the many fields of research to benefit from nuclear science "are a part of the University of Missouri's educational responsibilities to our youth and to all our citizens". The MURR began operation October 13, 1966 about one mile (1.6 km) southwest of the university's main campus and the city's main business district. The supplier of construction services was General Electric. In 1970, MURR scientist Dr. George Leddicotte gives the first courtroom testimony on murder trial evidence using neutron activation analysis. Four years later MURR begins operating at 10 MW, making it the highest powered U.S. university reactor. Ir-192 is first produced at MURR for fighting breast cancer in 1976. The first small angle neutron scattering (SANS) spectrometer in the U.S. is installed in 1980 In 1986 the first experiments are performed that lead to developing Quadramet and TheraSphere which were later approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for helping fight against bone and liver cancer respectively.

Since 2000, systematic upgrades, renovation, and renewal to MURR facilities and instrumentation in preparation for the next 20 years of licensed operation have taken place. In 2002, a 6,000 sq ft (560 m2) building addition opened the way for expansion into cGMP scaleup of isotopes. Groundbreaking began in 2006 on a 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m2) addition to house laboratories, classrooms and offices to advance interdisciplinary research, education and treatment of patients. As of March 2012, MURR supports research of approximately 400 faculty and 150 graduate students representing more than 180 departments from more than 100 international universities and around 40 federal and industrial labs every year. A cyclotron that will supply mid-Missouri with isotopes for PET imaging and support additional research, development, and clinical trials has been installed.