During a visit to Buffalo Wednesday, Lt. Governor Robert Duffy helped launch a new initiative at Roswell Park Cancer Institute to better understand, prevent and cure cancer.
The Center for Personalized Medicine is now officially up and running thanks in part to a $5 million stimulus grant from New York State and a $16 million investment in new equipment by Roswell Park.
The Cancer Institute is also partnering with Buffalo based Computer Task Group. Its Chairman and CEO James Boldt says they've spent the past year researching personalized medicine and building the technical infrastructure.
"This technology will help the center use genomic science and electronic medical records to facilitate cancer research and care through an innovative personalized medicine delivery mode," said Boldt.
Roswell President and CEO Dr. Donald Trump says the technology can map the genetic code of tumors and individuals in just a couple of days time.
"This information will lead to new drugs, new treatment prevention strategies even define those individuals most likely to benefit from screening," said Trump.
Lt.Governor Duffy said the Center for Personalized Medicine will help put New York at the forefront of medicine. Duffy said it's great for health, quality of life and job creation.