UTICA, N.Y. — Three Mohawk Valley Institutions on Wednesday formed the MV Biotech Collective, which is designed to “position the Mohawk Valley as a leader in biomedical innovation.” Representatives from the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI), SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly), and Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) signed a memorandum of agreement to formally establish […]
UTICA, N.Y. — Three Mohawk Valley Institutions on Wednesday formed the MV Biotech Collective, which is designed to “position the Mohawk Valley as a leader in biomedical innovation.”
Representatives from the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI), SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly), and Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) signed a memorandum of agreement to formally establish the alliance.
The MV Biotech 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,” the organizations contend.
“This signing is more than a formal agreement; it is the ignition point for a new era of scientific progress in New York State,” Maria Kontaridis, MMRI executive director, said. “By functioning as one unified team, we are able to accelerate scientific output, generate high-value IP, and drive economic development.”
Kontaridis is also the Gordon K. Moe professor and chair of biomedical research and translational medicine of MMRI.
Separately, the three organizations have been working on biotechnology projects within their own disciplines, MMRI said. The partnership will allow for easy cross-institutional collaboration, encouraging clinicians, scientists, faculty, and students to work together on shared projects.
The MV Biotech 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 seeks to build entrepreneurship and innovation, supporting and growing new biomedical companies and “serving as a catalyst for regional economic growth,” MMRI said.
The Collective has plans to begin bringing the organizations together to form committees and create a three, five and 10-year strategic plan.
