Dear UAlbany community,
I hope by now you’ve seen the exciting news about Governor Kathy Hochul’s landmark $50 million commitment to expand UAlbany’s Life Sciences Research Building and support the essential work of The RNA Institute.
We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul and New York State for investing in research that is not only critically important but also transformative.
This investment will create much-needed lab space for pioneering research into innovative therapies for myotonic dystrophy (DM) and will help harness the power of artificial intelligence in the fight against DM and other devastating neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.
It will also provide state-of-the-art facilities to train the next generation of New York’s biotechnology workforce, advancing our educational mission while strengthening both the regional and statewide economy.
This announcement reflects UAlbany’s continued momentum in building and expanding our research enterprise. For example, the RNA Institute’s research leverages artificial intelligence and benefits from UAlbany’s robust AI resources, including our AI Plus initiative that fosters collaboration across campus, as well as the statewide Empire AI consortium. This is not an isolated example but rather part of a broader, strategic effort to provide our faculty with the resources they need to pursue high-impact research that serves the public good.
Please join me in congratulating RNA Institute Director Andy Berglund and his colleagues across campus — in the life sciences and beyond — whose dedication and excellence continue to attract meaningful public support and drive innovation.
As a public research university, our mission has always been rooted in advancing knowledge that benefits society. This moment underscores the importance of that mission and the value of continued investment in the work we do.
Havidán Rodríguez
President