Media Advisory: Learn About UB's New Downtown Research Facility and Much More at UB Partners Day

BUFFALO, N.Y.-- A presentation on the University at Buffalo's newest downtown facility -- the Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) -- will be among the highlights of this year's UB Partners Day.

The event, which takes place on Friday, June 3 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, showcases how UB partners with industry, government and nonprofits to spur economic growth in Buffalo Niagara. The day will begin with about 15 workshops on subjects including how life sciences entrepreneurs can partner with UB to commercialize technologies; how UB is using virtual reality to help develop Buffalo's Inner Harbor; and how public and private organizations can recruit UB students as interns and volunteers.

To register or for a listing of workshops and exhibits, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/businessengagement/News/Events.

At a workshop on the CTRC, presenters will discuss collaborative opportunities and other topics relating to the new center, which will be housed in the UB/Kaleida building under construction on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The UB CTRC will focus on translating medical research into treatments and technologies, housing state-of-the-art laboratories, an imaging facility and examination rooms. A UB Biosciences Incubator within the facility, will nurture start-ups spun off from UB medical discoveries. Scientists, including existing UB researchers and new recruits, will utilize the space.

The CTRC, and UB's partnership with Kaleida Health, plays a key role in UB's development of a downtown campus. The university also is proposing a new medical school building near the site, will soon open the new UB Institute for Healthcare Informatics in partnership with Dell, has broken ground on a new Educational Opportunity Center and has moved programs to the UB Downtown Gateway (the former M. Wile building).

At Partners Day, "We will give an overview of what translational research is and talk about the CTRC itself -- its facilities and the potential job impact of the center," said Timothy Murphy, MD, UB senior associate dean for clinical and translational research and director of the CTRC. "I will also talk a little bit about the national climate. Translational research has become a national priority, and in Buffalo, with our new CTRC, our plans position us very well to become leaders in this national priority." Concurrent with the morning workshops, more than 50 exhibitors, including UB offices and departments and industry partners, will provide attendees with information on how businesses and community organizations can take advantage of the university's diverse expertise and resources. An awards luncheon at noon will feature a keynote address by Kenneth Adams, president and CEO of Empire State Development and commissioner of the New York State Department of Economic Development.

UB President Satish Tripathi will also speak, talking briefly to businesspeople and community leaders about UB 2020 and UB as an economic engine for innovation.

Partners Day honorees include M&T Bank, which will receive UB's 2011 Vital Partner Award in recognition of the company's community leadership and long-standing relationship with UB. The company has funded fellowships, endowed faculty positions and partnered with UB on the MoneySKILL high school financial literacy program. Employees have chaired UB's Scholarship Gala, hired and mentored interns and served on numerous university advisory committees. Other Partners Day award recipients include Thenkurussi "Kesh" Kesavadas, PhD, UB professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Khurshid A. Guru, MD, director of robotic surgery at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and UB clinical assistant professor of urology, who will receive the UB Faculty Entrepreneur Award. The researchers co-founded Simulated Surgical Systems LLC, a pioneer in the development of robot-assisted surgical simulators designed to reduce surgical error and make robot-assisted surgical education economically feasible. Jericho Road Ministries and Laurene Tumiel-Berhalter, an associate professor in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, will share the University Community Partners Award for leading a million-dollar study to improve cancer screening in minorities with multiple diseases. The award recognizes highly engaged community-based and academic research, scholarship or service collaborations. Media arrangements: Contact Charlotte Hsu in the Office of University Communications at 716-645-4655 or chsu22@buffalo.edu in advance of the event. For on-site media arrangements the day of the event, contact Charlotte at 510-388-1831.