Jim Stowers, the founder of American Century Investments, and his wife Virginia were motivated to establish a world-class research facility by a combination of their own experiences in surviving cancer (prostate and breast, respectively) and their desire to have a significant impact on giving future generations better choices for treatment in the face of serious illness.

The result is the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, which since opening in November 2000 has steadily racked up credibility and drawn top-notch scientists to lead its independent research programs. Last year, Stowers research teams published 43 papers in peer-reviewed journals, including some of the most influential publications in the world.

The Institute, located in a complex near the Country Club Plaza, now has an estimated 425 employees, including 25 principal investigators, about 120 post-doctoral researchers and graduate students and 188 other members of the scientific and administrative staff. The initial investments from Virginia and Jim Stowers, have grown to a $2 billion endowment.

“What is most exciting about the Stowers Institute is the incredible pace at which its science and research is advancing,” says William B. Neaves, PhD, president and CEO of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

Even the Stowers, whose expectations were lofty from the start, are pleasantly surprised by how quickly the institute has become an important player in international biomedical research, says Neaves.

It was 2001 when the Stowers Institute and the University of Kansas first announced an agreement designed to promote collaborations in medical research. Currently, 21 Stowers Institute scientists hold faculty appointments at the KU School of Medicine.

The partnership has proven important to both KU Medical Center and the Institute.

“Collaboration allows Kansas City institutions to accomplish more in less time,” Neaves says. “That is good for the scientists, the institutions, the region and the entire scientific community.” For KU Medical Center, the advantages of the relationship include the ability to bring world-renowned researchers to Kansas City, many of them to faculty appointments at the KU School of Medicine.

Then there’s the opportunity for KUMC students to work at Stowers. There are about 25 pre-doctoral KU medical students a year who can rotate among the labs that offer subjects they’re interested in, including the Stowers Institute. Currently, about 10 KU medical students are working in Stowers labs, says Allen Rawitch, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies at the KU School of Medicine.

“The Stowers Institute offers access to an additional pool of worldclass scientists working in areas that are of great interest to many students,” Rawitch says. “And so it represents an additional opportunity to for our students to pick a research mentor.”

As faculty members, Stowers researchers have access to KU facilities and KU graduate students who want to train in a particular research area, according to Paul Terranova, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research at KU Medical Center and president of KUMC’s Research Institute. On the other side of that, the relationship allows KU to ask Stowers researchers to occasionally teach a course, or part of a course, to give a lecture, serve on a committee, or guide students. “It’s a two-way street,” Terranova says.

Both Rawitch and Terranova believe it’s a real plus for KU Medical Center to be associated with the Stowers Institute and its great reputation.

Rawitch says “I think overall in terms of our planning for the continued expansion and development of research both at KU Medical Center and in the metropolitan area, the Stowers Institute is an extremely important player, and we are their primary academic partner.” +