Advanced Biotechnology Incubator

Downstate Medical Center

The Advanced Biotechnology Incubator is the cornerstone of an ambitious, borough-wide initiative to transform Brooklyn into a center for biotech research and development. To meet the high demand for affordable biotech space, SUNY Downstate Medical Center is creating a vibrant, urban Biotechnology Park adjacent to its current facilities.

As a first step, the Park’s anchor tenant ImClone Systems has constructed a 13,000 sq. ft. satellite facility. Adjacent to ImClone, Downstate is building a 50,000 sq. ft. Advanced Biotechnology Incubator to provide laboratory space for 20 to 30 companies. A total of $12 million has been raised from government and private sources to construct the facility’s first two phases. The first phase is complete and companies have begun leasing space. The second phase will be finished in summer 2004.

As the biotech companies grow, they can expand into low-cost industrial Empire Zones in Brooklyn. To facilitate this effort the Brooklyn Biotechnology Consortium was formed, which includes: Brooklyn Economic Development Corp., Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Empire Zones, New York City Economic Development Corp., Empire State Development Corp., New York Biotechnology Association, Pfizer, Con Edison and KeySpan.

To develop a well-educated local labor force, job-training programs in biotechnology are being developed for graduate students and technicians. In addition, a special program for Brooklyn teachers will be implemented to introduce biotechnology and related career opportunities to high school students.

Once complete, Downstate Medical Center’s Advanced Biotechnology Incubator and the neighboring biotech facilities are expected to stimulate Brooklyn’s economic revitalization through business growth and job creation, and help ensure that technologies developed in New York remain in New York.

Academic Leader

Dr. Eva Brown Cramer, Vice President for Biotechnology and Scientific Affairs, is overseeing the creation of the Biotech Park adjacent to Downstate Medical Center. Dr. Cramer helped raise private, city, state and federal funds for the first 24,000 sq. ft. of a 50,000 sq. ft. Advanced Biotechnology Incubator building. In addition, Dr. Cramer attracted an anchor tenant, ImClone Systems, and helped form then Brooklyn Biotech Consortium to facilitate biotechnology manufacturing throughout the borough.

Core Partners

ImClone Systems Inc., Downstate’s anchor tenant, has established a new $4.5 million laboratory facility within the Park for its new Small Molecule Drug Discovery Division. Dr. Alexander Kiselyov, an Assistant Vice President at ImClone, oversaw the building’s construction, and directs the development of new cancer and rheumatoid arthritis drugs at this facility.

Borough President Marty Markowitz, whose long career of public service includes 11 terms in the New York State Senate, demonstrated his commitment to Brooklyn’s future prosperity through his $1 million backing of the Biotech Incubator and has promised continued support to help biotech grow in Brooklyn.

Legislative Supporters

Speaker Sheldon Silver, D- 64^th District, and the Brooklyn Assembly Delegation clearly recognized Brooklyn’s potential to harness biotech as an engine for growth and Downstate Medical Center’s ability to transform that vision into reality. The forward thinking and leadership of Speaker Silver, Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr., D-43^rd District, and former Assemblyman William Frank Boyland Sr., D-55^th District, enabled the construction of the second phase of the Advanced Biotechnology Incubator with a multimillion dollar capital grant. New York City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and the Brooklyn City Council Delegation have championed this initiative and have had a tremendously positive impact on both local and citywide economic development. The millions of dollars they have invested in the Advanced Biotechnology Incubator will not only stimulate local job creation, but will help New York City to achieve its potential as a leader in biotech.

Federal Supporter

U.S. Representative Major R. Owens, D-New York’s 11th District, was instrumental in developing the vision for the Incubator and securing the federal funding that made it possible.