Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced $900,000 in funding for projects supported by the SUNY Health Network of Excellence. Six collaborative projects involving seven SUNY campuses will advance basic, clinical, and public health research in pain management, cardiovascular disease, cancer biology, and Lyme Disease, among other areas.

“With leading scientists and state-of-the-art facilities in every region, SUNY is uniquely positioned to convene top researchers and address the health challenges facing New York State,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “Projects funded by this latest round of SUNY Health Network of Excellence Awards will continue to advance innovation and discovery that supports the state’s healthcare industry while providing our students with incredible access to research opportunities and career experience in their field of study. Congratulations to all of the project partners receiving these awards.”

“Some of the most transformative outcomes of University-based research come from projects aimed at addressing society’s greatest challenges,” said Alexander N. Cartwright, SUNY provost and executive vice chancellor, and interim president of the Research Foundation for SUNY. “Each of the projects supported today has the potential to profoundly benefit the lives of New York State residents and beyond and/or effect meaningful change in current treatment.”

Each of the following collaborative projects will receive $150,000 as a result of today’s announcement:

• Developing an Integrated Biochemical and Imaging Pain Sensor to help clinicians and pain management personnel detect and measure pain levels ( Binghamton University, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Upstate Medical University)
• Studying racial and ethnic differences in gastrointestinal cancer biology (Stony Brook University, SUNY Downstate Medical Center)
• Advancing new therapeutics for treating glaucoma, macular degeneration and other retinal degenerative diseases (University at Buffalo, University at Albany, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Upstate Medical University)
• Conducting a comprehensive study of the chronic outcomes of Lyme Disease using the New York State Department of Health patient database (Stony Brook  University, University at Albany)
• Improving primary care delivery to high-risk children to reduce health disparities (Stony Brook University, University at Buffalo, Upstate Medical University, University at Albany)
• Designing novel patentable drugs and delivery systems to treat cardiovascular disease ( SUNY Downstate Medical Center,  University at Albany,  University at Buffalo)

More information, and a detailed abstract for all six projects that were funded, is available online.

About the SUNY Networks of Excellence SUNY Health is one of six SUNY Networks of Excellence. Each network assembles scientists, scholars, and external partners from SUNY campuses to conduct collaborative research in high demand areas. The remaining Networks are SUNY 4E (Energy, Environment, Economics and Education), SUNY Brain, SUNY Materials and Advanced Manufacturing, SUNY Arts and Humanities, and SUNY Teaching, Learning and Assessment.

To date, the SUNY Health Network of Excellence has invested $1.8 million in a variety of areas, including clinical applications of 3D printing, treatments for degenerative and infectious diseases, biosensors, big data, health disparities and aging.

About the State University of New York The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 460,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 college and university campuses, and online through Open SUNY. SUNY students and faculty across the state make significant contributions to research and discovery, resulting in nearly $1 billion of externally-sponsored activity each year. There are 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit  www.suny.edu.

June 25, 2015

Contact: Sherman Jewett 518-320-1311