History of Research at Downstate

Great research starts with the freedom to explore. SUNY Downstate has expanded the horizons of medical knowledge and practice since 1860.

In 1998, when Dr. Robert Furchgott earned a Nobel Prize, we received the loftiest confirmation of our status as a biomedical leader. His discovery of the role nitric oxide plays in regulating blood flow revolutionized the treatment of high blood pressure and heart disease. It also led to the creation of Viagra. Researchers investigating shock, cancer and neurological dysfunction continue to rely on his breakthrough.

Dr. Furchgott's work is on a long continuum of research and innovation at Downstate. When we opened, we upended traditional medical education by moving instruction to the patient's bedside. In time, Downstate researchers have contributed to myriad advances in clinical care.

Traditionally, our strengths have been in cardiovascular biology, neuroscience, bioengineering-instrumentation and molecular and cellular biology. We've developed the first heart-lung machine; unlocked DNA repair mechanisms; produced the first human images on an MRI; and learned to record and quantitate brain activity, which led to dramatic increases in understanding the hippocampus.

But in our 150-year history, we've contributed to a host of other breakthroughs as well, in fields as disparate as kidney care, cardiac care, and neonatology, to name a few.