BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State's first cell and gene therapy hub is coming to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced that a $98 million facility will support research and development of life-saving therapies at Roswell Park. Empire State Development also plans to invest $30 million to expand current capacity from six to 20 specialized clean rooms.
Hochul's office said this will make it the largest academic cell and gene therapy research and manufacturing facility in the United States.
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"Thanks to a $30 million state investment, Roswell’s new facility will help to solidify our state’s future in the field, create 21st century jobs, and provide hope to generations of New Yorkers who rely on these critical treatments," the governor said in statement.
Hochul's office said Roswell Park will place its focus on "developing cell and gene therapies to attack solid tumors. Current cancer-fighting cell therapies target what are known as liquid tumors, such as leukemia and lymphoma."
U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins welcomed the news, and what it could mean in the fight against cancer long-term.
"Roswell Park has a long history and a bright future as a worldwide leader in the development of innovative cancer treatments and discoveries," Higgins said in a statement on Friday. "This investment by Governor Hochul is more than a commitment to science. It is a commitment to all of the families in New York and beyond seeking hope and victory in the fight against cancer."