Kansas City, MO – Feb. 17, 2026 - Today, The University of Kansas Health System, the University of Kansas Medical Center, Children’s Mercy and Bold Advanced Medical Future (BAMF) Health announced their intentions to establish one of the nation’s first fully integrated theranostics platforms for both adult and pediatric patients—bringing advanced research, diagnostics and targeted treatments together in one place.
Theranostics is a precision medicine approach to care that uses the same targeting system to both find disease in the body and treat it using radiopharmaceuticals. By delivering radiation directly to diseased cells, it treats disease more precisely, minimizes damage to healthy tissue, and results in fewer side effects.
This unique public-private collaboration will allow all four organizations to bring both theranostics research and treatments to adults and children in Kansas City and beyond.
“Theranostics is the next forefront of precision medical care and research,” said Bob Page, president and CEO of The University of Kansas Health System. “This collaboration will advance both discovery and treatment, while driving investment in the Kansas City region as a destination for healthcare and research.”
While theranostics is currently used almost exclusively in adult care, Children’s Mercy is among the first pediatric health systems to invest early, ensuring children are not left behind as this promising field rapidly advances.
“At Children’s Mercy, we believe the future of pediatric care is built through bold collaborations and a shared commitment to what’s possible,” said Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, President and CEO. “By joining forces with The University of Kansas Health System, the University of Kansas Medical Center, and BAMF Health, we are taking a decisive step toward redefining how children access the most advanced care. This collaboration reflects our responsibility to lead—to accelerate innovation, translate discovery into action, and ensure every child can benefit from breakthrough therapies the moment they are ready to change lives.”
“Theranostics is redefining what’s possible in the fight against devastating diseases," said BAMF Health Founder and CEO Anthony Chang, PhD. "BAMF Health is leading the way in bringing this advanced technology to every single patient who needs it around the globe. This meaningful collaboration advances our mission to give patients more time, more hope, and more meaningful moments with their loved ones.”
Together, these organizations will establish a vertically integrated theranostics approach, which allows radiopharmaceutical production, molecular imaging, radiopharmaceutical therapy, and radioligand clinical trials to all happen in the same location.
“Theranostics is the next generation of collaboration between The University of Kansas Health System, the University of Kansas Medical Center and Children’s Mercy,” said Tammy Peterman, president of the Kansas City Division for The University of Kansas Health System. “Working with BAMF Health, we will combine the expertise and vision of premier public and private institutions to become the leaders in one of the most promising new treatments in medicine. Most importantly, this collaboration will offer patients and their families leading edge diagnostic and treatment technology.”
“This is innovation with intention—the kind of bold, collaborative work that moves health care forward,” said Robert Steele, MD, MBA, Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy and Innovations Officer, Children’s Mercy. “Few pediatric institutions are stepping in this early, but that’s exactly why it matters. We’re not waiting for the future to arrive; we’re creating momentum now so kids can benefit the moment science allows.”
“Through collaboration with our public and private partners, we have the opportunity to quickly deliver unique radiopharmaceutical clinical trials to study participants based on cutting-edge science and drug development efforts taking place onsite at KU Medical Center,” said Steve Stites, MD, executive vice chancellor of KU Medical Center and chief health sciences officer for KU. “This type of integrated advancement can make a real difference in how patients are treated and serves as an example of how public-private collaborations can work.”
"BAMF Health's first-in-world platform fully integrates a commercial production radiopharmacy, molecular imaging, radioligand therapy, and clinical research into a single facility," said BAMF Health VP of Partnerships Laurie Placinski. "By deploying our proven platform alongside institutions like The University of Kansas Health System, the University of Kansas Medical Center and Children’s Mercy across the country, we're accelerating radiopharmaceutical research, improving patient access, and enabling the future of medicine today."
Today, The University of Kansas Cancer Center offers theranostic treatments for certain types of metastatic prostate cancer and neuroendocrine cancer. This new collaboration will:
- Expand access for pediatric and adult patients, bringing them the most cutting-edge clinical trials, therapies and diagnostics across multiple diseases.
- Enhance collaboration and research among each entity to advance the next phases of treatments and therapies in precision medicine.
- Bring patients from across the region and beyond to Kansas City.
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ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM
The University of Kansas Health System is the region's premier academic health system, providing a full range of care. The health system is affiliated with the University of Kansas Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions and their leading-edge research projects. In the Kansas City metro area, the health system offers more than 150 hospital and clinic locations, including a hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, a hospital at Indian Creek Campus in Overland Park, hospitals in Olathe, Miami County and Liberty, and two mental and behavioral health hospitals in the Kansas City area. The health system in Kansas City has received Magnet nursing designation four times in a row for the highest level of care and has ranked every year since 2007 on U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals lists (best in Kansas and Kansas City). It provides the region's most experienced, nationally verified burn center and Level I Trauma Center, as well as a leading transplant program in liver, pancreas, kidney, heart, and blood and marrow. The cancer program is part of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, one of 57 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers. In addition to Kansas City metro locations, the health system has locations in Great Bend, Topeka and elsewhere.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
The University of Kansas Medical Center’s mission is to educate exceptional health care professionals through a full range of undergraduate, graduate, professional, postdoctoral and continuing education programs in the schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions. KU Medical Center also advances the health sciences through world-class research programs; provides compassionate and state-of-the-art patient care in an academic medical center environment; and works with communities in every Kansas county to improve the health of Kansans.
ABOUT CHILDREN’S MERCY
Founded in 1897, Children’s Mercy is a nationally recognized, independent pediatric health system and a world leader in pediatric translational research committed to transforming the lives of children and families. With hospitals and specialty clinics across Missouri and Kansas, Children’s Mercy delivers world-class, family-centered care closer to home. As a nonprofit organization, Children’s Mercy reinvests every dollar donated into advancing pediatric medicine, supporting innovative research and training the next generation of pediatric specialists. With more than 800 pediatric experts, researchers and faculty we are dedicated to improving outcomes and creating a healthier future for all children. Children’s Mercy has earned repeated recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” and is the first health system in Missouri or Kansas to receive six consecutive Magnet designations for nursing excellence. Thanks to generous philanthropic support and a strong volunteer community, Children’s Mercy provides hope, comfort and the prospect of brighter tomorrows to every child who comes through its doors. Visit Children’s Mercy and the Children’s Mercy Research Institute to learn more, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube for the latest news and videos.
ABOUT BAMF HEALTH
BAMF Health is the world’s first vertically integrated platform for intelligence-based precision medicine. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, BAMF Health employs the most advanced theranostic imaging technology to detect and treat cancer and other diseases and conduct advanced clinical trials. Our overriding mission is to empower patients to become people again. With a team of data scientists, researchers, software engineers, and clinicians —all working in lockstep—we’re making good on it. To learn more about BAMF Health, visit www.bamfhealth.com.
