initiator

noun
ini·​ti·​a·​tor | \ in-ˈish-ē-ˌāt-ər How to pronounce initiator (audio) \

Medical Definition of initiator

: one that initiates: as
a : a substance that initiates a chemical reaction
b : a substance that produces an irreversible change in bodily tissue causing it to respond to other substances which promote the growth of tumors