New York State will invest $50 million to expand the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany’s RNA Institute by increasing capacity at the Life Sciences Research Building (LSRB). The institute is a pioneer in utilizing AI technologies to advance innovative drug discovery and research among other goals.
The additional funding will enable the university to build a 3,000-square-foot facility for preclinical development, biosafety testing and advance Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing. The space will support New York’s efforts to conduct cutting-edge research and build a workforce skilled in biotech and biomanufacturing. Additional features included in the building’s design are:
- Pilot-scale cleanrooms.
- Bioreactors.
- RNA synthesis platforms.
SUNY-Albany will also have the resources needed to renovate and expand existing lab capacity. As a result of the state’s investment, the university will upgrade the LSRB, Biology and RNA facilities with next-generation tools and data infrastructure. In addition, approximately 20,000 square feet of wet/dry lab space, collaboration zones and shared instrumentation suites will further expand the LSRB’s footprint.
AI technology development and implementation initiatives are the forefront priorities for SUNY-Albany’s RNA Institute. The university will develop dedicated AI and health research space to support data-driven biomedical research with the goal of integrating it with the state’s Empire AI initiative and the university’s AI Plus Initiative. These spaces will offer high-performance computing access, data visualization labs and collaborative workspaces to dive into impactful health research into complex diseases and the impacts of public health threats like pollution and extreme weather.
The $50 million investment will also help integrate interactive educational and training elements to better connect and engage with the local community and schools. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing the pipeline for students to enter the state’s STEM workforce.
Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels
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