Support NY State Funding for Life Science Research
Dear Colleagues,
Over the next month, Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature will negotiate and finalize the FY 2026/2027 State budget. One of the items they will consider is the Bolstering Biotech Initiative (BBI), which will support life science research in New York State. $65 million for the BBI was included in Governor Hochul’s budget proposal and in the Assembly’s one house budget bill, but not in the State Senate proposal. Our task at hand now is to ensure that the final budget includes funding for the BBI.
The BBI is a terrific opportunity to provide more funding for research from New York State, but advocates must make their voices heard.
If you are inclined to do so, we encourage you to reach out to Governor Hochul and members of the State Legislature to urge them to support the BBI and to provide at least $65 million in funding.
Columbia has also joined other advocates in requesting that the $65 million funding request be increased to $165 million, and that a greater role for academic basic and translational research be included in the BBI. The Governor’s proposal tends to focus more on commercialization and private sector development, which are critical areas, but greater emphasis is needed on the earlier stages of the biomedical research continuum.
If you would like to reach out to policymakers, sample language you can use when contacting the Governor and your Legislators is included below. Please feel free to edit and personalize this language. To contact the Governor, please visit: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form. If you live in New York State, please use your home address. If you live outside the state, please feel free to use your Columbia work address.
For the Senate and the Assembly please visit https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator and https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ respectively. As with the Governor, please use your home address if you live in New York State. Once you have identified your State Senator and Assemblymember, visit their websites and click on the contact button and you will see an online form you can use to deliver your message.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Ross
Ross A. Frommer
Vice President of Government Affairs
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
raf2002@cumc.columbia.edu
(212) 305-4967
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Dear:
I am writing to urge the New York State Legislature to add $100 million to the fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund biomedical research and our scientific workforce. This investment will build on critical allocations already in the budget to capitalize on new opportunities and ensure that New York State will continue to lead our nation and the world in science and the delivery of healthcare that benefits all New Yorkers.
Governor Hochul has acknowledged the need for investment in biosciences by putting $65 million towards a Bolstering Biotech Initiative which would support late-stage research like clinical trials and venture capital investments. I strongly support these investments, but it is critical that New York fund the research that leads to discoveries in addition to commercialization and support the scientific workforce.
New York has been a leader in research for decades, but states like California, Massachusetts, Texas are investing billions in biomedical research and Canada, China and the European Union are spending billions to recruit our scientists - all at a time when the federal government is rapidly changing its policies and priorities for funding research. It is essential that New York boldly step forward and expand our commitment to our life science industry.
Bioscience is an important economic driver, with nearly $6 billion in research expenditures annually, employing 120,000 New Yorkers and training a scientific workforce that drives new discoveries and treatments that improve the health and lives of all New Yorkers. The State’s targeted investments in recent years have supported the expansion of our life science sector – particularly our startup economy. There is opportunity for states like New York that possess the infrastructure and workforce and are willing to invest boldly in science.
I am urging you to ensure that the future of bioscience in New York is secure by supporting the $65 million Bolstering Biotech Initiative and allocating an additional $100 million in this year’s budget to cement our continued global leadership in science, scientific talent, and healthcare delivery.
Thank you,