Show-Me State Times

Ground-breaking innovation at Mizzou provides patients around the world with access to a lifesaving toolbox of vital pharmaceutical ingredients called radioisotopes produced at only one location in the United States — the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR).

"By delivering radioisotopes to the site of cancer cells, we can deposit a whole bunch of energy right where these cells are growing and cause DNA double-strand breaks." - Carolyn Anderson

Building off more than a half-century of momentum since MURR opened, two MU researchers, Carolyn Anderson and Heather Hennkens, are now leading the way to uncover the benefits of a promising new addition to the toolbox: a radioisotope known as terbium-161.

"One exciting aspect of terbium-161 is its emission of an abundance of low-energy electrons, which are released in addition to electrons with moderate energy that are similar to those of existing clinical radiopharmaceuticals." - Heather Hennkens

"To determine the right pairing of radioisotope and targeting molecule to maximize the effectiveness of terbium-161, Anderson and Hennkens are focused on different aspects of taking laboratory results into the clinic."

"The right placement is critical for stopping the spread of cancer." - Carolyn Anderson

"Dr. Hennkens’ group is pioneering new ways to produce isotopes, and her research will ultimately help bring terbium-161 into patients’ lives." - Carolyn Anderson

"Right now, this is one of the few places in the United States where we can do this type of research." - Carolyn Anderson

Their end goal is to contribute to the development of a radiopharmaceutical with a targeted treatment method like Lutathera® or Pluvicto® that are approved for human use.

"With the resources at MU, including MURR, we are on the cutting edge of this research, and terbium-161 may be the next big radioisotope." - Carolyn Anderson