Governor George E. Pataki and Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. have announced $48 million in state support for a $71.5 million initiative to bolster Long Island's burgeoning biotechnology economy. The partnership includes the internationally renowned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, OSI Pharmaceuticals, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Institute and academic partners at Hofstra University, SUNY Farmingdale and Molloy College.

"This historic investment in the future of Long Island will create new high-paying jobs, while further securing the region's role as a world leader in biotechnology research and economic development," Governor Pataki said. "The project is another example of how New York State is not waiting for the future - we are building the future. This exciting partnership - combined with our new Long Island Center of Excellence in Wireless Internet and Information Technology - is going to help produce thousands of new jobs and major new private sector investments throughout the Long Island region."

"Today's announcement is another milestone in making Long Island a global leader in the biotech industry," said Fuschillo. "In addition to enhancing research capabilities and moving the world closer to finding the cure for cancer, this funding will create thousands of jobs, improve education and add hundreds of millions of dollars to the Long Island economy."

SUNY Farmingdale President Dr. Jonathan Gibralter thanked the governor and the senate delegation for their support.

"Now that Phase 1 of the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park is completed, Phase 2 will bring hundreds of jobs to Long Island, as well as cutting-edge biotech research to the Farmingdale campus that will allow collaborative research and grant writing opportunities between faculty, students and scientists," he said. "The overall benefit to Long Island and New York State will be enormous."

The projects, funded through the senate's "Gen*NY*sis" plan and other state economic development programs, will augment existing research capability, enhance educational opportunities and expand available commercial/laboratory facilities, building upon the region's tremendous biotech strengths and bolstering the region's position at the forefront of biotech research and economic development.

Biotechnology is widely considered one of the premier growth industries of the 21st Century. Through a historic partnership between state government, leading academic institutions and the private sector, this multifaceted, $71.5 million program builds upon the area's existing resources to establish a biotechnology "cluster" on Long Island.

The biotechnology investments announced provide a comprehensive, seamless program of education, research and economic development, from elementary school through college and from the lab bench to the workbench. Teacher education programs will hone K-12 teacher skills in critical science and technology areas, to improve students' skills and encourage the pursuit of science, providing a pipeline of new scientists and engineers.

Research programs will focus on analysis of vast amounts of biological data created through the mapping of the human genome, to create treatments for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other genetic illnesses. Other research will include high-powered brain imaging for the study of brain disease, autoimmune disorders, cancers, viruses, infertility and Parkinson's.

Industry leaders recognize the availability of affordable laboratory and commercial space as the principal area in which the state can ensure the viability of growing biotech firms and the project includes substantial business incubation space, providing a home for research spin-off companies and new biotech ventures. This facility will encourage the "clustering effect" through the collaboration among industry and academic researchers that fosters the commercialization of new products.

The state funding will support the following elements of the $71.5 million project:

* $35 million Bioinformatics Research Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Working with this genetic "roadmap," the next-generation Bioinformatics Research Center will enable computer scientists, biologists and biomedical informatics specialists to explore the potential applications of this information and develop groundbreaking treatments for cancers, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other genetic illnesses. The funding will support 25,000 square feet of space and equipment.

* $4.6 million North Shore-Long Island Jewish Research Institute Ultra High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit: Funding for a state-of-the-art 3.0T Ultra High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit at the institute's Neurosciences Center of Excellence will dramatically enhance its research capabilities and improve the institute's ability to attract federal grants and contracts. The project will enhance the study of brain disease, autoimmune disorders, cancers, viruses, infertility and Parkinson's. Nationally, the institute ranks in the top 15 independent research centers receiving federal funding.

* $20 million incubator at SUNY Farmingdale's Broad Hollow Bioscience Park: Anchored by OSI Pharmaceuticals, the 50,000 square foot incubator will provide start-up biotechnology companies with necessary low-cost accommodations and offer tremendous cooperative benefits among the tenants, OSI and Cold Spring Harbor.

* $10 million institute for the Development of Education in the Advanced Sciences (IDEAS Center) at Hofstra University: The IDEAS Center will provide future computer science and engineering teachers and current teachers with access to modern equipment and technology, to improve K-12 technology education and to encourage the pursuit of college and graduate degrees in these fields.

* $1.9 million to create the Long Island Center for K-12 Science Education at Molloy College: Molloy will upgrade its laboratories and other facilities needed to train K-12 science teachers to help address the region's shortage of science teachers and operate ancillary projects designed to renew students' interest in the sciences.