Troy, N.Y. — New York state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today announced that Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will receive $22.5 million to create the Gen*NY*sis Center for Bioengineering and Medicine. The Center will create 290 new permanent jobs in addition to 250 construction jobs, Bruno said.

Funding for the Center for Bioengineering and Medicine will come from the Senate’s Gen*NY*sis biotechnology economic development program that was included in the 2002-03 state budget.

The research center will be housed in Rensselaer’s new Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, an $80 million, 218,000-square-foot-facility currently under construction on the Troy campus.

“Rensselaer is truly at the forefront of groundbreaking biomedical research,” Senator Bruno said. “The Gen*NY*sis grant will fund an essential component of this world-class research facility. Not only will it be a giant step forward for research and education, but it will further enhance the Capital Region’s national reputation as a growing center for biotechnology and high technology.

”Rapid advances in bioscience and medicine are enabling new therapeutic and diagnostic techniques that will revolutionize health care,“ Bruno said. ”The state is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in high technology and biotechnology research and economic development that will make the Capital Region the focal point of research and development in the Northeast.“

”This award of $22.5 million by New York state greatly strengthens Rensselaer’s ability to conduct biotechnology research in the national interest,“ said Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. ”Given the advances in biomedicine and the public need for sustained and aggressive research to cure disease and to protect us from the threat of bioterrorism, this is a major step forward for Rensselaer, New York state, and the Capital Region,“ Jackson said. ”Rensselaer’s scientific and technical capabilities in these areas will be a catalyst for the growth of the biotechnology industry in the region and will attract new companies to move here. Rensselaer, through its nationally acclaimed Incubator Center and Technology Park, will directly support this growth. It is projected that the Gen*NY*sis Center for Bioengineering and Medicine will result in a significant increase in highly skilled, high-paying jobs in the Capital Region.“

The Gen*NY*sis grant will support essential infrastructure, including laboratory equipment and facilities within the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies and augment Rensselaer’s fundamental research in:

Accelerated drug discovery and synthesis: Currently, the drug development process is a long, expensive and often unsuccessful venture, resulting in costly drugs with numerous unintended side effects. Using new methods based on advanced computation, bioinformatics, and high-throughput biochip and combinatorial technologies, Rensselaer is designing safe, effective, and less expensive pharmaceuticals. The biomolecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, cardiovascular disease, and cancer and their protein-based targets are of particular interest for discovery efforts.

Biosensors and monitoring: The need for biosensors with a high degree of accuracy and specificity is critical for a range of applications, from biomedical monitoring to sensors for security and biohazard detection. Rensselaer’s leadership in nanotechnology, new imaging modalities, and biochips, is key in the development of these new sensors. The Institute’s initial focus will be on applications for medical diagnosis, detection of infectious agents, and bioterrorism-related research.

Tissue repair and replacement: The replacement of damaged bone tissue, regeneration of nerve and spinal cord tissues, and diagnosis and therapy for cardiovascular tissue are critical challenges. Breakthroughs in this area may net the ability to replace damaged nerve cells in patients with spinal cord trauma; grow new, healthy cardiovascular tissue to prolong the life of patients with chronic heart disease; and replace damaged bone tissue in aging women to prevent the severe pain of osteoporosis.

Research at Rensselaer has already resulted in dramatic discoveries. Two Rensselaer researchers have programmed a computer to use the sounds of 50 lung diseases to identify problems such as pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis. This process will be tested on real patients in the near future.

In addition, Rensselaer researchers have found a way to predict from scratch how a protein will begin to form. That knowledge moves us closer toward better treatments for Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), Alzheimer’s, and a range of amyotrophic diseases.

About the Gen*NY*sis Program
Gen*NY*sis stands for Generating Employment through New York Science

”The Gen*NY*sis program represents the state’s most significant investment ever in biotechnology economic development,“ Senator Bruno said. ”It is a rapidly growing field and this investment will build on New York’s exceptional life sciences research capabilities to be extremely competitive for biotech businesses and jobs. Working with our world-class research institutions, hospitals, and universities, we will be able to build state-of-the-art research and development facilities and leverage additional federal and private investments of more than $1 billion and create thousands of new high-skilled and high-wage jobs throughout the state.“

The Senate Majority first proposed the Gen*NY*sis program in December 2000 to ensure that New York state maintains its position as a premier location for life sciences research and technology development. Gen*NY*sis is focused on all stages of the life sciences research and development process, from basic research to applied research to final product, encouraging collaboration between public and private research institutions with emerging as well as established companies.

The 2002-03 state budget includes $225 million in funds for Gen*NY*sis over the next three years. The money is part of an overall $1.2 billion capital program to expand businesses and create new high technology and biotechnology in New York state. The Gen*NY*sis capital funding will be used to help construct new research facilities, incubators, accelerators, bioscience and high-technology parks, and purchase equipment.

The program is being administered by the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR).

Each project must submit a business plan to be reviewed by NYSTAR. Each project’s business plan must include:

* a description of the proposed project;

* a description of the consortium of institutions and organizations involved;

* the structure and governance of the collaboration;

* efforts to obtain and administer corporate, federal, and foundation support;

* the scientific and technical quality of the proposed research;

* the expected increase in research activity;

* projections of discoveries from the research sponsored;

* economic plan to further develop any discoveries;

* number of new businesses and jobs within New York state.

For more information see Press Release, Senator Bruno’s Office http://www.senatorbruno.com/press_archive_story.asp?id=6330

CONTACT: John McArdle, Marcia White (NYS Senate) (518) 455-2264

Contact: Bruce Adams
Phone: (518) 276-6531
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