Sept. 16, 2022
Contact: Brian Consiglio, 573-882-9144, consigliob@missouri.edu
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 (VMDL) on Sept. 16.
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
See photos from the groundbreaking ceremony.
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 on Sept. 16.
Carolyn Henry, dean of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, spoke at the VMDL expansion and renovation groundbreaking event.
The expansion and renovation of the VMDL is expected to completed in Summer 2024.
The VMDL is Missouri's only full-service veterinary laboratory for all animal species and the only laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The VMDL performs 160,000-plus diagnostic tests annually to support clients from 110 Missouri counties and 45 US states.
The VMDL is a Level 1 laboratory of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, which monitors and responds to foreign animal disease outbreaks, such as African swine fever, avian influenza, classical swine fever, foot-mouth-disease, emerging and reemerging animal diseases of significant consequences, such as SARS-CoV-2, and antimicrobial resistance in animal bacterial pathogens.
