COLUMBIA – The University of Missouri will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the $30 million renovation and expansion of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL).
MU’s VMDL performs more than 167,000 diagnostic tests annually to support Missouri’s companion and agricultural animals, wildlife, and zoo animal conservation efforts. As a Level 1 Laboratory of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, the VMDL plays a major role in the early detection, testing and post-outbreaks of foreign and emerging animal diseases, including avian influenza, African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, rabies and chronic wasting disease.
The expanded and renovated facility will add 34,200 square feet to the existing building, including:
• | Separate receiving areas and laboratories for routine, high-risk and foreign animal disease and biosecurity cases |
• | Separate laboratory spaces for clean materials and diseased or infected materials |
• | Space for client consultation |
• | An area for after-hours sample drop-offs |
• | Space for laboratory teaching and research |
• | ADA accessible entrances |
Speakers include:
• | Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri |
• | Latha Ramchand, provost of the University of Missouri |
• | Carolyn Henry, dean of MU College of Veterinary Medicine |
• | Kent Haden, Missouri House of Representatives (R-Mexico) and CVM Class of 1976 |
• | Clark Fobian, former president of American Veterinary Medical Association and CVM Class of 1977 |
• | Shuping Zhang, professor and director of the MU Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) |
1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16 at the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
901 E. Campus Loop, Columbia, MO 65211 (AV-2 parking lot).