Governor Hochul Announces First Phase of the SUNY Brain Institute to Fuel SUNY Excellence in Life-Saving Research

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the first phase of the SUNY Brain Institute, a statewide, federated neuroscience research network focused on new capabilities to combat age-related brain disorders. The $10 million multi-campus initiative will expand the State University of New York's neuroscience research to combat age-related brain disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as strokes and cognitive decline. Today, an estimated 427,000 New Yorkers have Alzheimer's or related dementias, which is expected to rise with an aging population.

"New York State is investing in transformative research that dives into issues affecting communities throughout the state," Governor Hochul said. "By connecting leading researchers and advanced infrastructures across New York, the SUNY Brain Institute will accelerate work on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke and other age-related brain disorders to find cures so families in every community have the quality time together that they deserve."

Led by the State University of New York at Buffalo, and including the State University of New York at Binghamton, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, SUNY College of Optometry, and SUNY Upstate Medical University, the network announced today will bring together complementary infrastructure, scientific expertise, and research capabilities to accelerate discovery, advance technological innovation, and improve health outcomes for New Yorkers.

The SUNY Brain Institute was launched in 2025 with a $10 million investment made possible by the capital support SUNY received from the 2025-26 enacted state budget. By creating shared access to advanced equipment and research capabilities, the SUNY Brain Institute will enable collaboration among SUNY's more than 600 faculty researchers working in neuroscience and strengthen their ability to accelerate discoveries, compete for external funding, and translate research into improved health outcomes.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, "SUNY is leading innovative research to support and advance the public good for all New Yorkers. The SUNY Brain Institute's work embodies SUNY's commitment to using higher education and research to dive into critical issues affecting communities across the state. We thank Governor Hochul and state leaders for their continued investment in SUNY's researchers, faculty and students who are working to improve lives and move New York State forward."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "With the steadfast support of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, SUNY's campuses are at the vanguard of vital neuroscience research for the public good. Through the SUNY Brain Institute we are able to further develop the infrastructure researchers need to advance crucial initiatives that improve the health of people across the state and beyond."

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, "I'm delighted that SUNY will continue to be on the cutting edge of scientific research. A breakthrough in a SUNY lab is enhanced when the community can see what it does for them. The Research Leadership Academy will give SUNY researchers the skills to lead teams, work across disciplines, bring more New Yorkers into STEM fields, and explain in plain terms how their work improves lives and grows the economy."

Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman said, "Earlier this year, I was proud to see my bill, A4195-A, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul this summer. The law makes the NY Connects program the one-stop shop for Alzheimer's and dementia information for those suffering from the disease and their families. The $10 million in funding allocated by the State to expand Neuroscience Research to combat age-related brain disorders is the next step in battling dementia. About 400,000 New Yorkers are living with Alzheimer's and other related dementias, according to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. I want to thank SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and the SUNY Board of Trustees for making this a priority."

The $10 million investment includes:

• State University of New York at Buffalo - $5 million: As the lead of the first phase of the Institute, the university will coordinate the formation and scientific direction of the statewide network while expanding translational neuroscience infrastructure and capabilities focused on age-related brain disorders.
• State University of New York at Binghamton - $500,000: The university will establish multiscale research infrastructure for microphysiological study of dementia arising from multiple causes.
• SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University - $1.5 million: SUNY Downstate will create the Lifespan Neural Dynamics Center (LNDC) to contribute advanced research capabilities for investigating neurological function and disease across the lifespan.
• SUNY College of Optometry - $1.5 million: The campus will establish the SUNY Eye Biobank, a shared research resource to advance the study of age-related neurological and visual disorders.
• SUNY Upstate Medical University - $1.5 million: SUNY Upstate will establish the 'BiO' Node, integrating biospecimens, induced pluripotent stem cells, and organoid models to support human-centered neuroscience research.

Governor Hochul has charged the SUNY System with doubling research for the public good and has invested state support to achieve that goal. Following Governor Hochul's guidance, SUNY has undertaken major actions to advance research efforts throughout the system, including:

• Governor Hochul's announcement earlier this month that Empire AI Beta, housed at the State University of New York at Buffalo, is online, giving researchers at New York's leading public and private universities access to the most powerful academic research computer in the country.
• The third annual SUNY AI Symposium was also held in April at the State University of New York at Stony Brook to highlight AI leaders, SUNY researchers, educators, and partners who are advancing discovery, driving AI innovation, and generating economic growth in New York State.
• The SUNY Research Expo, held in March, to highlight faculty and student research excellence throughout the SUNY System.
• The SUNY Research Connect Portal, which was launched to showcase the research profiles of nearly 7,000 SUNY researchers from 26 campuses.
• Governor Hochul's announcement that the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research, the first-ever independent AI research center at any public university in the United States, would be established at the State University of New York at Binghamton.
• An investment to construct a new biofabrication research and imaging facility on the State University of New York at Buffalo campus that will help discover new medicines and cures to save lives.
• The major expansion of the State University of New York at Albany's RNA Institute to advance world-class research, training, and workforce development.
• The establishment of the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, further catapulting New York's national leadership in groundbreaking research that saves lives, grows the economy, and improves national security.
• The launch of the SUNY Research Leadership Academy to develop research leaders, strengthen communication and collaboration skills, and advance inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) fields. The Academy will help support researchers and provide important skills including how to better communicate effectively with the general public on the tangible, real-world benefits provided by research conducted across the SUNY system.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country's oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.