UTICA, NY – On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, MMRI, MVHS and SUNY Poly officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), formally establishing the MV Biotech Collective. This powerful regional alliance is designed to position the Mohawk Valley as a leader in biomedical innovation.

The Collective unites the core strengths of the three institutions: MMRI’s foundational scientific research, MVHS’s critical clinical excellence and SUNY Poly’s advanced academic innovation.

"This signing is more than a formal agreement; it is the ignition point for a new era of scientific progress in New York State," said Maria I. Kontaridis, Ph.D., executive director, Gordon K. Moe professor and chair of biomedical research and translational medicine of MMRI. "By functioning as one unified team, we are able to accelerate scientific output, generate high-value IP, and drive economic development.”

“This collaboration represents an important step forward for our region and for the future of healthcare in the Mohawk Valley,” said William W. LeCates, MD, president/CEO of MVHS. “By combining the clinical resources of MVHS with the research strength of MMRI and the academic innovation of SUNY Poly, we seek new opportunities to translate discoveries into better care for our patients and our community.”

“This partnership reflects a shared vision and belief in what’s possible when education, research, and clinical practice come together,” said Winston O. Soboyejo, Ph.D., president of SUNY Poly. “Through the MV Biotech Collective, we are cultivating an environment where innovation thrives, students and researchers work side by side, and discoveries made here in Utica have an impact far beyond our region.”

Separately, the three organizations have been working on biotechnology projects within their own disciplines. The partnership will allow for easy cross-institutional collaboration, encouraging clinicians, scientists, faculty and students to work together on shared projects.

The Collective’s primary goal is to foster a "one team" approach, enabling joint grant applications and strengthening established lines of research. It will allow the organizations to focus on artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to dramatically accelerate the pace of discovery and create a biomedical hub in the region. The Collective aims to build entrepreneurship and innovation, supporting and growing new biomedical companies and serving as a catalyst for regional economic growth. 
The Collective has plans to begin bringing the organizations together to form committees and create a three, five and 10 – year strategic plan.

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About MMRI: MMRI is a non-profit dedicated to scientific research that improves the health and quality of life for all humankind. We conduct high quality research aimed at developing a deeper understanding of the causes of cardiovascular, neurocognitive and autoimmune diseases, in the hopes of identifying innovative treatments and cures for these devastating ailments.

About SUNY Poly: SUNY Poly, located in Utica, N.Y., is a vibrant and inclusive community where students, faculty, and staff are empowered through a forward-looking STEAM education and dynamic campus experience. As New York State’s premier public polytechnic, SUNY Poly fosters innovation and interdisciplinary learning across its four colleges—Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences—preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Guided by a bold vision for societal impact, SUNY Poly advances use-inspired research and transformative collaborations that drive economic development, technological progress, and humanitarian solutions—locally in the Mohawk Valley and globally across diverse communities. 

About MVHS: MVHS is dedicated to delivering premier healthcare to our region, keeping our patients as the focus of all we do. MVHS strives to be the leading patient-centered medical and healing environment, the employer of choice and the pride of Central New York. MVHS is the parent company of the Wynn Hospital, a new, state-of-the art, 373 bed hospital in downtown Utica, as well as MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County.