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Governor Cuomo Announces $17.2 Million to Bolster Biomedical Research in New York State

Governor Cuomo announced $17.2 million in state awards to 26 academic medical institutions for the training of new clinical researchers working on cutting-edge biomedical research. These awards, administered over a two year period through the Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program, are vital to helping New York both attract new researchers and solidify itself as a national biomedical research hub.

“Some of the world’s most exciting and groundbreaking medical discoveries have been made possible by research done in New York medical institutions and laboratories,” Governor Cuomo said. “This investment will help train the next generation of researchers, helping to ensure that the Empire State remains on the cutting edge of innovation.”

The Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program provides funding for clinical and population-based research specific to an institution’s community and allows those institutions to hire researchers for critically important projects that represent a strategically important area of growth for the institution. Over the next two years, more than 86 physician researchers will be trained as a result of this funding in diverse research fields, including: heart and kidney disease, traumatic brain injury, human cancer genomics, health information technology, population health, and stem cell therapy. Once program researchers conclude their training through this program, they will be well prepared for careers in research.

“The Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program is a vital part of our efforts to solidify New York as a leader in biomedical research,” said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. “These awards will support hospitals in attracting and training new clinical researchers whose work will make great strides in improving the overall health of New York State.”

The program supports two types of awards — team-based Center Awards and Individual Awards. Center Awards provide funding for teaching hospitals to form research teams focused on a specific topic, disease, or condition. This will not only further the development of clinician researchers, but also give these hospitals a foundation from which they can seek additional funding from the federal government to build upon their work.

Twelve institutions will receive Center Awards, with each receiving $1,260,332 over two years for the training of a team comprised of at least six fellows. For five of the 12 Center Award recipients, the awards will support both a primary and secondary project, and all 12 institutions have each committed at least $200,000 in direct matching funds for their projects.

Individual Awards are being made to 14 teaching hospitals, each of which will receive up to $150,000 over two years, to train program researchers in diverse research fields such as obesity, diabetes, lupus, kidney transplant, schizophrenia, HPV infection, and hearing loss.

The winners are as follows:

Center Awards

HealthAlliance Hospital (Mid-Hudson)
Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center (NYC)
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (NYC)
Montefiore Medical Center (NYC)
Mount Sinai Hospital (NYC)
New York Presbyterian – Columbia University (NYC)
New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medical College (NYC)
North Shore University Hospital (Long Island)
NYU Langone Medical Center (NYC)
SUNY Downstate (NYC)
Westchester Medical Center (Mid-Hudson)
University of Rochester Medical Center (Finger Lakes)

Individual Awards

Elmhurst Hospital Center (NYC)
Erie County Medical Center (Western NY)
Hospital for Special Surgery (NYC)
Kings County Hospital Center (NYC)
Lenox Hill Hospital – North Shore LIJ Health System (NYC)
Long Island Jewish Medical Center – North Shore LIJ Health System (NYC)
Maimonides Medical Center (NYC)
Montefiore/New Rochelle (Mid-Hudson)
Mount Sinai Beth Israel (NYC)
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYC)
New York Hospital Queens (NYC)
New York Methodist Hospital (NYC)
Staten Island University Hospital – North Shore LIJ Health System (NYC)
Winthrop University Hospital (Long Island)

The Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program was first created in 2000 upon the recommendation of the New York State Council on Graduate Medical Education, an advisory body of medical educators within the Department of Health that provides policy advice relating to medical education and training. Almost $103 million has been awarded since the program’s inception, including the awards announced today.

For more information on the Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program visit: http://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/doctors/graduate_medical_education/ecrip.