SLAM completes design for final phase of SUNY Upstate Biotech lab

Syracuse, NY The final phase of the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University Biotech Accelerator (Upstate Biotech), a LEED Silver-designed project by The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM) is complete. In addition to wet- and dry-lab space, a shared equipment wet-lab and shared equipment public areas, the 60,000 s/f facility now features the Upstate MIND—a Medical Innovation and Novel Discovery Center— which opened on September 1 on the 3rd floor of the Accelerator.

The Upstate MIND encompasses state-of-the-art technology with shared concept space allowing tenants of the Upstate Biotech access to service providers, mentors and experts. A 200+ seat “Theater in the MIND,” will host TED talks and other multimedia presentations; pod-like structures to host start-ups; additional conference facilities; and dining space to foster interactions that drive impactful translational research. The Upstate MIND also includes the National Grid Creation Garage where early innovation, mentorship, prototype development, usability testing, and collaboration is supported. Upstate Biotech features a new “Igloo Village” and conference facilities, which will serve as event spaces available for short-term rental.

Another key component in the completion of Phase 2 is the Molecular Pathology Next Generation Sequencing Lab. The second floor now houses a core facility for genetic testing which will embrace new provider models and technologies to increase clinical effectiveness, capitalize on new genomic discoveries and fuel the explosive growth of the biotechnology industry.  This patient-centric outreach facility will implement patient education and coordinated care services in order to optimize the patient informed care decision experience.

Additionally, the second floor houses a new Pathology Informatics lab which includes an anatomage table for advanced visual anatomy education.

“It has been a real pleasure working with SLAM,” said Dr. Robert Corona, Jr., DO, MBA, FCAP, FASCP – professor and chair of Pathology, medical director of Neuropathology/Muscle Pathology and director of the Biotechnology Accelerator Center. “Their collaboration enabled the vision of building a pathology facility that is relevant to the future of precision medicine and an entrepreneurial accelerator that supports efforts from ideation in our theater through product and service creation in our garage and igloo village.  It is an ecosystem that will help our region innovate and flourish economically.”

The Upstate Biotech will facilitate joint research and development between public and private sectors. SUNY Upstate has distinct research excellence in natural resources and medicine, and shares strong commonalities in the biotechnology and biomedical realm. Built around a rapidly expanding translational research enterprise with four colleges and its own teaching hospital, Upstate Medical University is the only academic medical center in Central New York and is the region’s largest employer.10