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Tech Valley News
New $42 Biomed Facility Planned for Region
A $42 million state-funded, high-tech biomedical facility at the University at Albany’s East Campus will house the Institute for Biomedical Education and Research. The Institute is an historic collaboration between the University at Albany and Albany Medical Center designed to promote and accelerate the advancement of biomedical education and research and strengthen Tech Valley’s biotech industry.
UAlbany’s 87-acre East Campus already houses 20 public and private entities and employs 1,000 workers.
"The key to a vibrant economy is strong collaboration between government, higher education, and private industry," said State Senator Joseph L. Bruno. "Today’s announcement will keep Tech Valley at the forefront of cutting edge research and education. This Institute will revolutionize health care, biomedical research, and medical education in Tech Valley. Albany Medical Center and the University at Albany are the largest educational and research institutions in Tech Valley and have accomplished so much, and contributed greatly to the entire area -- this collaboration will allow them to achieve even more."
"The University at Albany welcomes the opportunity to work with Albany Medical Center," said University at Albany Interim President George M. Philip. "This collaboration will build upon key strengths of each institution, such as cancer, cardiological and neurological research, as well as prevention medicine. The alliance will set the stage for the development of new collaborations with other medical and educational institutions throughout New York."
The 110,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility will house research space and academic/instructional space that will be used to:
- enhance the education of medical students by expanding the preventive medicine and public health curriculum;
- provide greater educational access for students from both institutions through dual degree programs, including BS-MD, MD-MPH, and MD-PhD programs;
- create research collaboration in the focused areas of cancer, cardiology, and neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease;
- and increase the size of the research clusters, resulting in greater competitiveness, economic development opportunities for the region, and greater access to federal research dollars.
The historic partnership between Albany Medical Center and the University at Albany will give them the opportunity to advance the National Institute’s of Health (NIH) Roadmap for Medical Research, aimed at increasing scientific discovery and knowledge through inter-institutional research programs.
The Institute for Biomedical Education and Research will play a critical role in revolutionizing health care, biomedical research and medical education in Tech Valley.
It will address the need for a qualified, well-educated workforce to meet rising health care needs due to the growth of the population.
At the same time, the collaboration will increase scientific productivity, create more research opportunities and enhance the biotech industry throughout the region, attracting more federal funding and bringing and retaining the best and brightest medical and research professionals in the world.
Officials aren't sure how many new jobs will be created although the facility is expected to attract thousands of educators and students. While groundbreaking is expected in next couple of years, no time frame for construction of the new building has been established.
Albany Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer James Barba sees other research institutions and universities joining the new institute, once it's established.
"I would see no reason not to bring other partners into it," he told the Times Union. "If there are private companies who want to join, that would be terrific."
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