Our Academic and Corporate Partners
For Corporate Partners:
Empire Discovery Institute is advancing a diversified portfolio of drug development programs with its academic research partners in varying stages of development across multiple therapeutic areas, including Multiple Sclerosis, autoimmune disease, cancer, cystic fibrosis, otitis media, Hemophilia A, wound healing, hypertension and heart failure, kidney disease, and weight loss.
TRANSFORMING DISCOVERIES INTO MEDICINE
"Advancing life science innovation through academic and industry collaboration"
Our Story
Every year, numerous promising drug discoveries stall in academia due to limited funding, resources, and industry expertise. To bridge this gap, Empire State Development partnered with the University of Rochester, the University at Buffalo, and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to launch the Empire Discovery Institute, a $47 million initiative driving innovations from the laboratory research stage toward commercialization to benefit patients.
Our mission is to accelerate the translation of academic innovation into commercially viable drug candidates and life-saving therapies. We empower the researchers with the expertise and infrastructure to advance their discoveries and provide investors access to a pipeline of high-potential, de-risked assets ready for development.
What We Do
Identify, Evaluate, Select, and Advance promising academic discoveries through the early stages of development toward first-in-human readiness.
Our Impact
88
Proposals Reviewed
15
Active
Projects
$11M+
Awarded Funding
4
Spinouts
Created
Our Approach
Empire Discovery Institute employs a unique “market-back science-forward” strategy when evaluating academic proposals for entry into one of its accelerator programs.
Market-Back assesses a proposal’s potential value from a drug discovery, (pre)clinical development, and commercialization perspective within the top therapy areas of pharmaceutical investment and unmet medical need.
Science Forward evaluates a proposal’s likelihood of success to advance through drug discovery stages from target-to-hit, hit-to-lead, lead optimization, to
ultimately IND-enabling studies.
Working With Us
Empire Discovery Institute collaborates with academic research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, investors, and foundations in areas that include, but are not limited to:
For Principal Investigators:
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Access to funding, technical capabilities, and guidance from the pharmaceutical industry experts
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Customized project teams dedicated to ensuring scientific and operational success
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Milestone-based work plans that are co-developed by pharma experts and PIs are designed to add patient and commercial value
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A clearly defined commercial path and exit strategy
Our Values
1. Innovation
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2. Collaboration
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3. impact
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What We Do
Target to hit
HIT TO LEAD
Lead Optimization
Pre-Clinical
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