Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ

Contact: Jennifer Hollingshead

Office: (573) 882-0601

E-mail: hollingsheadj@umsystem.edu

The proposed University of Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ-Columbia health sciences center to be financed from the Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative will focus on treating cancer and teaching future health care professionals, UM President Elson S. Floyd said Thursday.

President Floyd told Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ newspaper publishers and editors the proposed structure would not house medical research laboratories. If such laboratories are built, the University would not use funds from the Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative for that purpose. The new building would host relocated functions of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and an expansion of the University of Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ-Columbia School of Medicine, the president told members of the Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ Press Association and The Associated Press.

"This should clear away any question about whether stem cell research would occur in a University of Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ structure paid for with proceeds from the Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative," President Floyd said. "It also removes any question about protecting the University's academic freedom."

President Floyd continued: "The University of Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ will utilize these funds for facilities to teach future healers and to battle cancer – missions that were always intended to be part of this new structure, consistent with the University's missions of education, service to our citizens and building our state economy."