History of Discovery
The Buffalo Niagara region has a rich history of discovery in life sciences that is sometimes not known to those outside and even within the region. A major source of the world-renowned innovation comes from our longstanding research institutions. For example, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), one of the CoE partners, was the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is even today is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer care centers in the United States. RPCI instituted the nation's first chemotherapy program, pioneered studies on the relationship between smoking and lung cancer and developed photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
Similarly, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI), another CoE partner, is home to Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Herbert Hauptman, who is recognized for his groundbreaking work in x-ray crystallography, a technique used in determination of molecular structures important for research in areas such as drug development. With more than 100 academic departments and programs, the CoE’s lead institution, University at Buffalo, has a breadth of inventions across life sciences disciplines, including timed-release insulin therapy, surfactant therapy for treating premature babies and nicotine replacement therapy, just to name a few. Beyond these world-class institutions, the entrepreneurial spirit has been alive in the private sector as well, with one of the best known local inventions being the cardiac pacemaker, developed by Mr. Wilson Greatbatch.
Life Sciences Discoveries in Buffalo Niagara
- Cardiac pacemaker
- BAC Libraries for sequencing the Human Genome
- Platinum Coil for Inoperable cranial Aneurysms
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
- Surfactant Replacement Therapy for Neonatal Respiratory Distress
- Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer
- Beta-Interferon Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy
- Sickle Cell Screening Test
- High-Throughput Crystallization Method for structure determination
- Timed-Release Insulin Therapy
- PKU Test
- Artificial blood
News
Turning Research Into Practicality is Focus of Roswell Park Workshop
11/4/2009 - BUFFALO, NY -- "The daylong 'translational research workshop' brought academics and industry representatives together to tackle the difficulties and opportunities of commercializing medical research..." [Read On...]
UB Engineering Professor Honored at White House
10/08/2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - "President Obama honored Takeuchi for inventing the battery that powers many of the world's implanted medical devices, but he just as easily could have lauded her as living proof that the American dream still comes true..." [Read On...]
Life Science Careers Touted: UB leads consortium promoting variety of job possibilities in Western New York
10/6/2009 - BUFFALO, NY -- "A program designed to bring careers in the life sciences within reach of more Western New York job-seekers was rolled out Tuesday by a consortium of agencies and businesses led by two branches of the University at Buffalo. The program is called iSciWNY... " [Read On...]
Visit the News Archive
Events
November 19 - "Vybion: The Successful Morphing of a Contract Research Organization into a Therapeutics Company" featuring Lee Henderson, CEO, Vybion Inc. Click here for more information.
December 10 - "The Passport of a Life Sciences Entrepreneur," featuring Shreefel Mehta, Ph.D., MBA. Click here for more information.
To view the complete list of events and event details, please visit our Events page
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