We, the undersigned researchers, write to register our strong support for the proposal to include the Empire Biomedical Research Institute (EBRI) in the Governor’s Executive Budget for 2026-2027. This proposal would address an urgent need for a state-supported funding mechanism to advance scientific discovery, healthcare delivery and economic resilience, by awarding grants to public or private research companies, universities, medical schools, institutes, and health care organizations in the State of New York.
New York hosts a world-class research workforce, with 35,000 New Yorkers working in federally funded biomedical research at institutions across the state, performing ground-breaking science, developing new treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, HIV, and other disorders, and training the next generation of scientists. Another 120,000 New Yorkers are employed at bioscience companies across our state.
The research enterprise across New York produces innovations that contribute enormously to the health, well-being, and prosperity of millions of people, not only in our state but around the world, while simultaneously undergirding New York’s economy and tax base. For instance, every dollar invested in scientific research returns approximately $2.56 in economic activity. EBRI will lead to new jobs at universities, hiring of staff, collaborations between biotech and academia, training programs that help recruit, retain, and develop early-career scientists, and a return on investment that will grow our local economy. Without this added investment in biomedical research, New York risks falling behind other states - including California, Texas, and Massachusetts - that are taking active steps to solidify and expand this important work.
Instability in federal funding mechanisms has threatened New York’s dynamic research ecosystem. EBRI will create a state-based research institute tasked with distributing grants via a rigorous peer review process to support projects that benefit New Yorkers. This proposal provides an opportunity not only to affirm New York’s leadership in scientific research and innovation but also to pioneer new approaches to funding scientific research that spur more innovations to improve the lives of New Yorkers and people around the world.
We strongly endorse the proposal to include EBRI in the Executive Budget for 2026-2027 and look forward to New York continuing to lead the world in scientific research and innovation.
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