The University of Missouri hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the $30 million renovation and expansion of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory last week.
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
