Collins Attends Ribbon-Cutting for New Precision Medicine Facility

Collins stands smiling behind a podium at an outside ceremony with 2 seated men--1 on each side--clapping

Speaking at the ribbon-cutting for the University of Missouri’s Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, NIH director Dr. Francis Collins is applauded by Dr. Mun Choi (l), university president, and Darryl Chatman, chair of the University of Missouri board of curators.

Photo: University of Missouri

NIH director Dr. Francis Collins was among other national, state and local dignitaries on Oct. 19 for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The 265,000-square-foot facility will serve as the hub of the university’s NextGen initiative to help accelerate precision medicine endeavors.

In brief remarks, Collins praised efforts by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and others in Congress to increase the nation’s investment in scientific research innovation. The NIH director also gave a keynote presentation and described the great potential of precision medicine to build a personalized approach to and transform the future of health care.