Mihalko Named Executive Director of CAT

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- William M. Mihalko, M.D., Ph.D., has been named executive director of the University at Buffalo's Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) by UB Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi.

Mihalko is an associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedics in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and research director in the UB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Holding both medical and biomechanical-engineering degrees, he serves as the head of arthroplasty at the Erie County Medical Center and is on the medical staffs of Millard Fillmore Hospitals, Buffalo General Hospital and the Children's Hospital of Buffalo, all of the Kaleida Health System.

"We are delighted to have someone of Dr. Mihalko's caliber to direct the CAT," Capaldi said in making the announcement.

"He is a bioengineer with an active research and clinical program who will provide superb leadership in evaluating and developing biodevices for commercialization in Western New York."

Mihalko's appointment comes at a time when the CAT -- barely three-quarters into its first official year -- already is making strides in its main mission: to provide funding to innovations in biopharmaceuticals and in biomedical devices that are close to commercialization. Gov. George E. Pataki announced creation of the CAT and $1 million in funding for its first year of operation last May.

"Dr. Mihalko's expertise in bioengineering represents an area we're very strong in," said Robert J. Genco, D.D.S., Ph.D., a vice provost and head of UB's Office of Science, Technology and Economic Outreach (STOR). SUNY Distinguished Professor and chair in the Department of Oral Biology in the School of Dental Medicine, he previously was director of the CAT.

Genco noted that a number of the projects that have received funding from the CAT are in the area of medical devices, including some that are well on their way toward prototypes, a reflection of the speed with which things have moved at the center since its inception. He cited the example of an esophageal catheter that is on its way to a prototype, and the FP Technologies project, in which an ultraviolet-light system ordinarily used to retain freshness in food is being adapted to reduce nosocomial infections in hospital settings.

"We have tried to be very responsive to the needs of both scientists and our industrial partners in order to decrease the amount of time between concept and the need for data and the time it actually gets funded, while retaining rigor in our scientific evaluation process," said Genco.

The CAT already is embarking on its third round of application evaluation, with funding awards anticipated to be made in early April.

"The CAT is part of our Office of Science, Technology and Economic Outreach in terms of providing research funding and it connects with all of the other STOR units, such as the UB Technology Incubator and, of course, our intellectual property division," he said. "At the same time, the CAT relates to the STAR (science, technology and academic research) center and the Buffalo Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics as a major technology-transfer division."

Projects that were funded in the most recent round of CAT awards include a system that allows for the capture and detection of potential bioterrorism agents in air, a diagnostic system based on pharmacogenomics that may be able to distinguish multiple sclerosis patients who will respond to drug therapy from those who won't, and a diagnostic kit for distinguishing between viral and bacterial forms of respiratory infections.

Genco said the CAT's ultimate goal is leveraging its research into economic gains and new jobs.

"That requires not only excellent scientific and corporate partners," he added, "but also an economic infrastructure in terms of venture capital, a legal and business infrastructure to support startup businesses and a well-qualified workforce, which we are already seeing develop with the funding of our Sloan master's programs in bioinformatics and related areas."

Genco noted that the support of legislators, the business community and all the economic development organizations continues to be critical.

The CAT received its original startup money in 1999 with support from Assemblyman Paul Tokasz, Assemblyman Robin Schimminger and other members of the Western New York delegation.

The planning process continued in 2000 with an additional allocation and under normal circumstances, would have had to wait until 2004 to apply formally when the next round of competitions for the CAT was being held.

But that wait was shortened by three years when Gov. Pataki quickly embraced the idea and came to Buffalo last May to officially announce it. The CAT also was enthusiastically supported by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt and other members of the delegation, as well as Russell Bessette, executive director of the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research, under whose leadership the economic development potential of academic research has been highlighted.

After completing his residency at the UB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mihalko completed an Adult Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at the Missouri Bone and Joint Center. He earned his medical degree, as well as a doctorate in biomechanical engineering, from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University.

He is the recipient of an award from the Buffalo Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Award for Outstanding Orthopaedic Research during Residency, the American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award and, with colleagues, the Knee Society's Ranawat Award for research on knee joint stability.