By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Funding for the new Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics is slowly gathering momentum. The combination of federal and private contributions got another boost yesterday with a $4.5 million grant from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation.
Next week, the Hauptman Woodward Institute will begin soil tests on the site for their new medical building. It's the first tangible step in construction of what will be the new tri-plex, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus at Ellicott and Virginia Streets. Roswell Park Cancer Institute and UB's Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics will also each have a building in the 400,000 square foot research complex.
The $4.5 million grant will help build the connectors between the three. Dr. George DeTitta is Chief Executive Officer for Hauptman Woodward. He says connectivity is key to scientific success.
"We will use this physical connection to bolster the scientific connections that we've had that have been working, and working well, for many years now," said DeTitta. "We're looking forward to being in this new life sciences complex and this starts the ball rolling."
The state gave initial financial push by dedicating $110 million for the project. The three medical partners however have had to raise an additional $62 million dollars in matching funds toward construction, equipment and staffing. Private sources, such as the Wendt Foundation have lowered that amount now to roughly $43 million. Roswell Park CEO Dr. David Hohn says philanthropy is a crucial part of the formula.
"The work we do in science can not be done without philanthropy. That's been true in the past, it's increasingly true in the future," said Hohn. "The Wendt Foundation has been remarkable in its support of Roswell Park and the other institutions in doing the individual work that they do. But, the new more exciting, collaborative work that is clearly going to be increasingly a part of our future also needs that kind of support."
Officials from all three institutions expressed confidence that all funding will be in place for construction to begin by the middle of next year.