Kansas City launches integrated theranostics platform partnership

mobihealthnews.com · Feb 20, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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By Jessica Hagen , Executive Editor | February 20, 2026 | 12:54 PM Photo: Westend61/Getty Images The University of Kansas Health System, the University of Kansas Medical Center, Children's Mercy and Bold Advanced Medical Future (BAMF) Health announced a public-private collaboration to develop a fully integrated theranostics platform for adults and children in Kansas City.Theranostics combines diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy using the same molecular target, most commonly through radiopharmaceuticals in oncology.The collaboration will bring together the four organizations' theranostics research and treatments to establish a treatment center that enables molecular imaging, radioligand clinical trials, radiopharmaceutical production and radiopharmaceutical therapy to occur in the same location.The inclusion of pediatric theranostics through Children's Mercy is particularly notable, as most radiopharmaceutical platforms are focused on adult oncology.The organizations say the collaboration will expand access to the treatment modality to adult and pediatric patients, bring more patients to Kansas City, and advance research and collaboration for treatments and therapies in precision medicine."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 on site at KU Medical Center," Dr. Steve Stites, executive vice chancellor of KU Medical Center and chief health sciences officer for KU, said in a statement. "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."THE LARGER TRENDThe global theranostics market is predicted to triple by 2029, reaching $12.7 billion, according to a BCC Research study, driven by the growing number of cancer patients, the rising cost of drug discovery and the resistance to existing cancer treatments.GE HealthCare is a major player in the theranostics space.Sergio Calvo, general manager of theranostics at GE HealthCare, recently sat down with MobiHealthNews as part of the Emerging Technologies series to discuss theranostics and its impact on helping determine the best treatment options for patients.Calvo said theranostics works by imaging the same biological target before and after treatment, enabling personalized targeted therapy. He anticipates that with time, the technology will only enhance personalization. "Personalization is something that exists today to a certain degree. You select patients, you make certain decisions, but this personalization is going to increase over time. It's going to get more sophisticated," Calvo told MobiHealthNews. Tags: