Downstate Awarded SUNY Funding for Neuroscience Research Projects
Aug 14, 2014
Collaborative Research into Treatment for Brain and Eye Disorders Supported by SUNY Brain Network of Excellence
Brooklyn, NY – The State University of New York and the Research Foundation for SUNY (RF) is providing $244,000 in funding for two research projects affiliated with SUNY Downstate Medical Center and other SUNY campuses as part of a program to support innovative research on causes, treatments, and cures for neurological-based diseases and disorders.
The grants are part of the first round of funding for projects supported by the SUNY Brain Network of Excellence, one of five networks SUNY created to maximize interdisciplinary and collaborative research across SUNY campuses and facilitate partnerships with academia, industry, and the community.
“On SUNY campuses across the state, our students and faculty are making major medical breakthroughs, discovering with each new venture a more effective way to understand, diagnose, or treat diseases that affect brain and eye function in people of all ages,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Congratulations to all of the project partners supported by this first round of funding.”
SUNY Downstate-related projects and investigators funded include:
$147,000 to Stony Brook University, Downstate Medical Center, University of Rochester Medical Center
John Danias, MD, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology and Cell Biology; Vice-Chair for Research, Department of Ophthalmology; Director of the Glaucoma Service SUNY Downstate
“Exploring the relationship between glaucoma and waste removal system dysfunction around the optic nerve and eye.”
$98,600 to Downstate Medical Center, SUNY Optometry, Upstate Medical Center
Youping Xiao, PhD, Associate Professor Ophthalmology, SUNY Downstate
”Mapping computational modeling with human behavioral measurements to explore the contextual effect on color perception.”
More information about funded projects and a detailed abstract for each is available online.
Mark Stewart, MD, PhD, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and vice dean for research, said, "We are very pleased to be recognized by the RF and the SUNY Brain Network of Excellence. These vision research projects at SUNY Downstate bring together investigators to cross departmental boundaries – ophthalmology, cell biology, neurology and pediatrics – forming a cohesive collaborative."
Douglas Lazzaro, MD, FACS, FAAO, professor and Richard C. Troutman Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Microsurgery, said, "These grants complement the work of the SUNY Eye Institute (SEI), a state-wide consortium of vision researchers from the four SUNY medical schools and the SUNY College of Optometry. Through the SEI, we are providing statewide leadership in translational vision research. I am extremely proud of what we are doing with eye research on our campus and believe the scientists are really advancing medicine."
Timothy Killeen, president of the RF and SUNY vice chancellor for research, said, "SUNY Brain advances the frontiers of neuroscience research by integrating current investments in neurosciences, neuroclinical services, and analytic sciences at multiple SUNY campuses. The range of projects funded showcases the diversity of expertise across SUNY that is applied every day to resolve neurological-based health problems."
About The Research Foundation
The Research Foundation for SUNY (RF) is the largest, most comprehensive university-connected
research foundation in the country. The RF manages SUNY’s research portfolio providing
essential sponsored programs administration and innovation support services to SUNY
faculty and students performing research in life sciences and medicine; engineering
and nanotechnology; physical sciences and energy; social sciences, and computer and
information sciences. The RF moves SUNY ideas and inventions to the marketplace collaborating
with business and industry to create new opportunity and new jobs for New York State.
To learn more about the RF visit www.rfsuny.org.
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 463,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and
certificate programs, and more than 1.8 million NYS citizens in professional development
and personal enrichment programs, on 64 college and university campuses, and online
through Open SUNY. There are nearly 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide. To learn more about how SUNY creates
opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.
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About SUNY Downstate Medical Center
SUNY Downstate Medical Center, founded in 1860, was the first medical school in the United States to bring teaching out of the lecture hall and to the patient’s bedside. A center of innovation and excellence in research and clinical service delivery, SUNY Downstate Medical Center comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, School of Public Health, University Hospital of Brooklyn, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively.
SUNY Downstate ranks twelfth nationally in the number of alumni who are on the faculty of American medical schools. More physicians practicing in New York City have graduated from SUNY Downstate than from any other medical school.