Facts & Figures

Mission

The mission of the Danforth Center is four-fold:

• Increase understanding of basic plant biology

• Apply new knowledge for the benefit of human nutrition & health and to improve the sustainability of agriculture worldwide

• Facilitate the rapid development and commercialization of promising technologies and products, and,

• Contribute to the education and training of graduate and post-doctoral students, scientists and technicians from around the world

Partners

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is the product of a unique and innovative partnership joining several public and private institutions:

• Missouri Botanical Garden

• Monsanto Company

• Purdue University

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• University of Missouri-Columbia

• Washington University in St. Louis

Researchers

The Danforth Center has a world-class team of interdisciplinary researchers. The research team consists of 17 principal investigators and approximately 200 scientists including visiting scholars, technicians, post-doctoral and graduate students working in the following fields:

• Computational and Structural Biology

• Biochemistry, Chemistry & Phytochemistry

• Plant Biology & Genetics

• Cell Biology, Root Biology

• Immunology, Physiology & Pathology

Key Research Areas

Scientific efforts at the Danforth Center focus on the following research programs and initiatives:

• Plants to improve human nutrition & health

• Plant nutrition: studies of root biology and root nutrient interactions

• Developing resistance to disease & pests

• Novel materials, bio-based products

• International Laboratory for Tropical Agricultural Biotechnology (ILTAB)

Facility

Location Address: 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
Gross Square Footage: 150,000 square feet
Laboratory Space: 15 Suites; 50,700 square feet total, including lab support
Greenhouse Complex: 14 Greenhouses; 12,000 square feet total
Plant Growth Chambers & Growth Rooms: 32 Individual Growth Chambers & 19 Custom-Designed Growth Rooms
Core Support Facilities: Proteomics, Mass Spectrometry, Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Crystallography, Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation
Auditorium Complex: 3,700 square feet, with 302 Stadium-Style Seats, State-of-the-Art Audio, Video, Internet and Teleconferencing Capabilities
Design Architect: Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, London, England
Technical Architect: Helmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), St. Louis
Construction Manager: McCarthy
Project Manager: Landmark Contract Management
Total Project Cost: $75 million

Board of Trustees - Click for Board members

Scientific Advisory Board - Click for Board members