The University of Missouri has announced an $11 million gift from alumni Glenn and Nancy Linnerson in support of its College of Veterinary Medicine.

The estate gift will establish the Dr. Glenn R. and Nancy A. Linnerson Imaging Center and help advance comparative and translational medicine research at MU. Glenn Linnerson graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1954, while his wife graduated with a degree in human environmental sciences, also in 1954.

"Nancy and I spent considerable time discussing how their planned gift could continue the commitment she and Glenn had to veterinary medicine while contributing to biomedical discoveries that benefit both humans and animals," said College of Veterinary Medicine dean Carolyn J. Henry. "The Linnerson Imaging Center will do just that by equipping the College of Veterinary Medicine to play an essential role in translational medicine at MU and beyond. We are so grateful to the Linnersons and this estate gift, which is the single largest gift our college has ever received."

"Together with the MU Research Reactor and the upcoming NextGen Precision Health building, these facilities will help accelerate new pharmaceutical drugs and biomedical devices to improve patient care," said University of Missouri president Mun Choi. "Mizzou is home to world-class medical imaging resources, and now, with this gift, we can honor the Linnersons' legacy by taking our research to the next level."

(Photo credit: University of Missouri)