Stony Brook, NY - November 13, 2013 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for Stony Brook University’s Medical and Research Translation (MART) facility, a new 250,000 square foot facility that will focus on cutting edge cancer research, advanced medical imaging, and cancer care.

The MART facility received $35 million through program under the Governor’s NYSUNY2020 Challenge Grant initiative, an innovative program launched in 2011 was designed to help New York's public universities become a leading catalyst for regionally-focused economic development. The facility’s construction is enabled by a $150 million gift from Jim and Marilyn Simons and the Simons Foundation.

"The new MART facility will be a premier center of advanced medical research and treatment, provide our students with the experience needed for careers in the medical field, as well as provide Long Island residents with quality cancer care," Governor Cuomo said. "The State has focused on investing in our centers of higher education to prepare our students for the 21st century economy as well as foster regional economic development, and the MART facility demonstrates this vision by helping create new jobs here on Long Island as well as strengthening Stony Brook University's position as a leader in the medical science field."

The 250,000-square-foot facility will be located on the Stony Brook University Medical Center campus where scientists and physicians would work side by side to research and discover new treatments and technology which would be brought to market more efficiently and quickly. Construction of the MART is estimated to create 4,200 construction-related jobs.

The infusion of additional revenue generated through elements of Stony Brook’s plan will allow for the hiring of 245 faculty, 80 medical professionals, and several hundred new graduate students and staff over the next five years and while enabling Stony Brook to admit an additional 1,500 students during that same period. Courses taught by full-time faculty would greatly increase, as would the number of undergraduate course sections available to students in every discipline.

The MART will have:

• 25 cancer biology-oriented labs
• 30-room cancer clinic
• 30-station clinical infusion center
• 300-seat auditorium
• Breakout rooms for smaller conferences
• New classrooms for students

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, "Thanks to the leadership and vision of our Governor, incredible new medical discoveries, cutting edge cancer research, novel new treatments – and perhaps someday even a cure–will be developed on a Long Island SUNY campus. This is what's possible on the 21st century college campus in New York; groundbreaking research that brings together the University’s top scientists with their private sector counterparts to develop and bring to market life-changing technologies. This entrepreneurial environment provides untold opportunities for our students and drives economic activity across New York."

Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. said, “Today, we took an important step forward in Stony Brook University’s goal to develop the MART, a translational research center that will advance both medical innovation and clinical practice. Yet we would not be here today if it were not for the vision and unwavering commitment of two of our greatest champions - New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, and our generous friends, Jim and Marilyn Simons. Governor Cuomo’s vision for SUNY 2020 helped create the operating revenue that is enabling us to hire 267 new faculty, helping us transform this campus, and giving us the opportunity to recruit world class scientists to Stony Brook and to the MART. Equally transformative is the capital funding that was made available to us, in the form of a $35 million capital challenge grant from the Governor which was matched by $50 million dollars from Jim and Marilyn Simons, as part of their historic $150 million gift to Stony Brook University. So it is wonderful that we could all be here today to celebrate such an important milestone.”

Jim Simons said, “It is wonderful to see this building after two years of planning reach the groundbreaking stage. Marilyn and I were inspired by Governor Cuomo’s vision and commitment to SUNY 2020, making this building a reality. Under the outstanding leadership of President Sam Stanley and School of Medicine Dean Ken Kaushansky this investment will produce medical innovations and critical jobs for the region and Stony Brook University.”