UAlbany's Gen*NY*Sis Center

The Mission: Dedicated to Excellence in Cancer Research
The Gen*NY*Sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics is committed to research that will discover the genetic origins of cancer and lead to finding a cure for the disease. Located on the University at Albany’s East Campus in Rensselaer, the new Center will combine UAlbany research expertise in genomics and biomedical sciences with state-of-the-art technology in a new 113,000 sq. ft. building. The Gen*NY*Sis Center is part of a $45 million project made possible by a $22.5 million grant from New York State’s Gen*NY*Sis Program. Additional funds will be secured through individual, corporate, and foundation gifts.

How It Began: The Gen*NY*Sis Cancer Center
Senator Joseph L. Bruno, sponsor of statewide Gen*NY*Sis Program said that UAlbany’s Cancer Center will provide a strong foundation for achieving the University's long-term goal of building a Comprehensive Cancer Center — a federal designation awarded by the National Cancer Institute. As the first step toward this goal, the Center will undertake cutting-edge cancer research in partnership with a number of regional institutions. The Program, which stands for "Generating Employment Through New York Science," is expected to leverage more than $1 billion in federal and private sector funds over a three-year period statewide. Gen*NY*Sis was designed to help New York State take full advantage of the economic potential of life science research and development.

Dr. Paulette McCormick Director of the new Gen*NY*Sis Center, as well as Founding Director of UAlbany’s Center for Functional Genomics, is also the Director of Genomics Research at the Stratton Veterans Administration Medical Center. She believes “The new building will stand as a symbol of hope for all those afflicted with cancer.” and has dedicated her career to understanding and finding a cure for the disease through genomics research.

Research Mission

The Gen*NY*Sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics is committed to "translational" research - research that can quickly be translated into treatments that benefit patients. The center takes a multimodal, high-throughput (high-speed, high-volume), high-tech approach to understanding the common genetic causes of cancers. We look system-wide at every molecular entity (such as DNA, RNA, or proteins) that can, because of a malfunction, cause cancer. Hopefully, this approach guarantees that when important discoveries are made, the results are applicable to not just one form of cancer, but many. In this way, we hope to accelerate the scientific community's progress against cancer.

The initial fundraising goal of the Gen*NY*Sis Center’s campaign — The Fund for Memory and Hope — will be $25 million to equip the facility and support cutting-edge research. Senator Bruno will serve as Honorary Chair of the Campaign with the Gen*NY*Sis Center’s first gift made to him at the Groundbreaking Ceremony, on June 24, 2003 by Mrs. Mary Polsinello Hanley, in honor of her late son, James, who died of brain cancer in 2002.

Designed as the centerpiece of the new building’s entrance lobby, the Wall of Memory and Hope will display dedicated plaques chosen by donors to the Gen*NY*Sis Center. These dedications may be made for a variety of reasons —in memory of cancer victims, in hope for a cure, or in gratitude for the continued health of survivors of the disease. The first of these plaques to be installed will be dedicated to James R. Hanley.