research at suny – past, present and future

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Research at SUNY – Past, Present and Future

James A. Weyhenmeyer, Ph.D.Senior VP for ResearchOctober 6, 2008


Overview

Provide background on SUNY and its research enterprise

Talk about strengths and challenges facing the research enterprise today

Discuss initiatives designed to help grow the research enterprise


The System is Born

In 1948, Governor Thomas E. Dewey and the NYS Legislature combined 32 unrelated public institutions with 27,000 students into a single entity, the State University of New York, to give the state's residents a critical educational opportunity.

In 1951 The Research Foundation of State University of New York was established as a separate corporation to administer sponsored research programs for the University.


The University Centers Emerge

University Centers – research institutions, with national and international stature, offering baccalaureate, masters, doctoral, and advanced professional degrees – were designated in the 1960s1960: Stony Brook 1962:

AlbanyUBuffalo (joined SUNY as a U Center)

1965: Binghamton


Some Research Milestones

1989: University at Buffalo elected to the AAU – first SUNY school so honored

1998: SUNY adopted "zero based" and performance driven budget allocation process. Campuses gained significant state funds for research in proportion to their success in attracting and renewing external grants

2001: Stony Brook University elected to the AAU


Examples of Past Discoveries Chemist Paul Lauterbur pioneered the use of

nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for medical imaging in the early 1970s (Stony Brook)

The first human images produced by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were produced by MRI inventor Dr. Raymond Damadian (Downstate)

The first isolation of the spirochetal bacterium that causes Lyme disease, and the antibiotic regimen to combat it were developed at SUNY (Stony Brook)


Recent Past

Trend in Research FundingTotal Academic R&D Expenditures State University of New York (dollars in millions)

$853.0

$680.6

$535.7

$421.9

$1,032.2

97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07

Source: National Science Foundation


Recent Past (con’t.)

SUNY doctoral campuses have substantially increased research productivity since 1998, the year the Board of Trustees initiated a research match in the University budget and implemented Mission Review with a focus on doctoral campuses in increasing research activity.

SUNY Research Growth 1998-2007 (dollars in thousands)

Total Academic R&D Expenditures at Doctoral Granting Campuses

Campus 1998 2007 % Increa

se

U. Albany 50,568 309,221 511%

Upstate 14,089 39,699 182%

U. Buffalo 151,650

314,837 108%

Stony Brook

141,766

268,282 89%

Binghamton

20,754 35,462 71%

Downstate

27,517 29,809 8%

ESF 22,036 23,854 8%

Total 428,380

1,021,164

138%



Now (cont.)

R&D Expenditures at Universities and CollegesRanked by FY2007 Expenditures (dollars in thousands)


Rank

Institution 2007 Expenditures

All Institutions 49,430,767

1 U. California (all campuses) 4,501,404

2 U. Texas (all campuses) 1,977,217

3 Johns Hopkins U. 1,554,103

4 SUNY (all campuses) 1,032,218

5 U. Maryland (all campuses) 895,691

6 U. Wisconsin (all campuses) 894,732

7 U. Illinois (all campuses) 817,632

8 U. Michigan (all campuses) 808,731

9 U. Washington 756,787

10 Stanford U. 687,511


Now (cont.)

StrengthsCommitted university community –

even in the face of tightening resources

Establishment of SUNY BOT URC committee

Public/private partnershipsRF flexibility at multiple operational

levelsNYS’s push toward an innovation

economy


Now (con’t.)

ChallengesBudget – at all operating levelsAging physical infrastructure – an

important factor in attracting the “best and brightest” faculty

Significant focus on contract supportP&T policies that recognize

entrepreneurshipThe RF challenge – to be a forward thinking

partner for SUNY (change as part of our culture)


Examples of Current Discoveries

Recently, a UB chemistry professor, James Garvey, received significant federal funding to develop his patented BioBlower technology that rapidly removes biohazards from the air

A UB physician-researcher, Donald Hickey, patented a breakthrough device that monitors blood flow and volume, cardiac pumping ability, and heart valve function.


Future

The Case for Research Investment

The US invests more than $50 billion (>$30 billion from NIH alone) annually in academic research

States and communities whose universities secure these grants reap enormous collateral economic benefits

The most successful universities have the strongest research faculties


Future

Federal obligations for research, by agency ($ millions)

Agency 2007 obligations for research

(proj.)

Department of Health and Human Services

28,801

Department of Defense 6,450

Department of Energy 6,039

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

4,111

National Science Foundation 4,049

US Department of Agriculture 1,791

All Other 3,848

Total 55,089



Future

The Case for Research Investment (con’t.)

“…New York’s leaders must embrace a new reality of global connectedness and competition, of accelerating idea creation and dissemination. New York has no choice…we must compete with many others on the cutting edge of ideas and innovation, or be left behind.”

“…outstanding research universities are key to the State’s future…SUNY…needs significant investment to become competitive with other states’ top public research universities.”

Commission on Higher Education Report, 2008


Future

Three keys to growing SUNY’s research enterprise

Add research faculty

Bring in more federal dollars

Make capital investments in the infrastructure


Add Senior Research Faculty

Empire Innovation Program

Recruit (globally) faculty teams to build highly competitive, interdisciplinary research clusters

Focus on multi-campus collaborations around large research themes on areas of existing research strength

Provide competitive start-up resources to attract star faculty to quickly increase the funding base and serve as a magnet other faculty talent

Provide graduate and postdoctoral fellowships to support education and research in extant and emerging clusters


Bring in More Federal Dollars

The federal government provides full overhead recovery (“indirect” or “facilities and administrative” costs).

For every million dollars in direct costs: Federal returns $299,600 in overhead

(29.96% ROR) Business, Industry and Other returns

$106,200 (10.62% ROR) NYS returns $35,300 (3.53% ROR)

Overhead helps to support research infrastructure!


Make Capital Investments in the Infrastructure

From Chancellor Clark’s testimony to the NYS Legislature (1/08)

The Executive Budget recommended a new five-year capital plan for SUNY that provides a foundation for insuring progress in coming years.

An additional $1.6 billion in funding for strategic initiatives will allow SUNY to selectively expand and renovate facilities to support the enhanced research and instructional needs of the university.

Taken together, SUNY capital funding of $4.4 billion in new authorizations is a welcome beginning. We appreciate the capital funding recommendations and look forward to working with the Legislature on advancing this very important component of SUNY’s budget.


Future Discoveries

Expect SUNY to be in the forefront of discoveries in:Nanotechnologies and small

scale systems packagingAlternative energyHigh performance computingMedical diagnostics and

therapeutics


Conclusion

The large turnout for today’s workshop reflects SUNY’s strengths:Talent/IdeasCommitmentDiversity

These strengths will help grow SUNY’s research enterprise and build a bright economic future for NYS.

Thank you for joining us today

research at suny – past, present and future

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