Senator Bond announces funding for Life Sciences Center addition
By Jennifer Hancock

A crowd gathered on Monday, Nov. 7, to listen to Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond announce that $3.75 million has been secured in federal funds to support the construction of the National Plant Genetics and Security Center at MU. Bond previously has secured $7.4 million for the construction of a new facility, to be built onto the Life Sciences Center.

CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Tom Payne, right, and Sen. Christopher 'Kit' Bond, listen to welcoming remarks. Sen. Bond announced that $3.75 million has been secured to support an addition to the MU Life Sciences Center.

According to Bond, the $35 million addition will effectively enhance USDA Agricultural Research Service units and bring in new research projects. It will bring soybean improvements, human health improvements and more bio-control efforts to the area.

“It’s a potential benefit for all mankind,” Bond said.

Jim Coleman, MU vice provost for research, had the privilege of introducing Sen. Bond. Coleman first spoke about how proud he is of the unique mission that MU fills.

“It’s a major source of innovation and creativity in the state. This will allow cutting edge research,” Coleman said.

Bond addressed that this isn’t just money for a building. “It’s what happens inside the building that’s important.”

The facility will help in the long-run, allowing for research that affects everybody in households all over the world. Hundreds of people worldwide are helped by biotechnology, he said.

“Science has brought us to a place where we can feed the hungry, heal the sick, and protect the environment,” Bond said.

With Bond’s dedication in helping the agriculture communities and people involved in them, Columbia is becoming one of the premier biotech centers in Missouri.

The Christopher S. “Kit” Bond Life Sciences Center opened in Sept. 2004. Michael Chippendale, interim director of the center, announced that there are currently 250 people working in the building: 70 undergraduates, 150 graduate and postdoctoral students, and 30 faculty participating in seven interdisciplinary research cluster groups. The people working in the center come from 10 different departments in six schools and colleges on campus. Currently, the center is about 75 percent occupied; when it’s full, it will house about 350 people.

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