Chancellor King Celebrates SUNY Research Excellence During Expo Event for State Leaders

March 18, 2026

SUNY Research Expo Brings Together SUNY Campuses and Legislators to Highlight Faculty and Student Excellence Throughout the SUNY System 

Photos Available Here

Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. highlighted research conducted across SUNY showcased at the SUNY Research Expo in Albany. SUNY's Research Expo was held at the Legislative Office Building and featured research that saves lives, strengthens the economy, and improves our security in fields including agriculture, environmental, artificial intelligence (AI), and medical research.

"SUNY's campuses throughout the state are conducting groundbreaking research that improves the lives, health, and safety of all New Yorkers," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The SUNY Research Expo is an opportunity to showcase the incredible work being conducted by our leading academics and students, and the event reinforces our commitment to achieving Governor Kathy Hochul's goal of doubling research throughout the SUNY system. I applaud all of our researchers for their continued work to position SUNY as a national leader in innovative research."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "The SUNY Research Expo is another opportunity to recognize the groundbreaking research in artificial intelligence, medicine, quantum, and other subjects that improves lives and powers New York State's economy. We thank Governor Hochul, and state leaders, for their steadfast support and continued investment in research at SUNY."

The 2026 SUNY Research Expo included researchers, students, and representatives from 10 SUNY campuses:

  • State University of New York at Albany
  • State University of New York at Binghamton
  • State University of New York at Buffalo
  • SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
  • SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
  • New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell
  • SUNY College of Optometry
  • SUNY Polytechnic Institute
  • State University of New York at Stony Brook
  • SUNY Upstate Medical University

Research initiatives across the SUNY system highlighted during the SUNY Research Expo included researchers from the State University of New York at Albany demonstrating the use of virtual reality to aid rehabilitation patients, State University of New York at Binghamton researchers demonstrating the use of artificial intelligence in robotics, researchers from the State University of New York at Buffalo showcasing the DeepFake-o-Meter, an open access platform for detecting AI-generated images, video, and audio, and researchers from the State University of New York at Stony Brook presenting their research on biomedical engineering and biotechnology.

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Senate Higher Education Committee Chair said, "The SUNY Research Expo is a powerful reminder that our public university system is not just an educational institution; it is an engine of innovation that strengthens our economy, protects our security, and improves lives across New York and beyond. I am proud to support SUNY's research mission. I thank Chancellor King and the talented faculty and students across our campuses for their dedication to discovery."

State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Assembly Higher Education Committee Chair, said, "It was truly fascinating to see and hear firsthand the research conducted right here in New York State. The SUNY Research Expo is a powerful reminder that our public higher education system is the engine of global innovation. From the vital environmental research at SUNY ESF to the life-saving medical breakthroughs shown today, these projects demonstrate that an investment in SUNY is an investment in our collective security and economic future. I am proud to support the students and faculty who are turning visionary ideas into real-world solutions for all New Yorkers."

State Assemblymember Steve Otis, Chair of the Assembly Science and Technology Committee, said, "From Stony Brook to Buffalo, Syracuse to Albany, New York City and around the state, SUNY science and technology teams are conducting cutting-edge research and inventing new tools for the benefit of society. Projects presented included advanced microbe research to combat our climate change challenges, software to detect deep fakes, new inventions to improve childhood vision, tick-borne disease detection, and addressing AI mental health challenges for victims of natural disasters. SUNY is not only teaching, SUNY is also advancing the work of scientific research and inventing new and exciting breakthroughs. The EXPO showcased some of the countless stories that place SUNY as a leader in research in the academic setting."

The SUNY Research Expo showcases SUNY's commitment to achieving Governor Hochul's goal of doubling research and innovation throughout the SUNY system. SUNY has undertaken major actions to advance research efforts throughout the system, including:  

  • In February, SUNY announced the launch of the SUNY Research Connect Portal to showcase the research profiles of nearly 7,000 SUNY researchers from 26 campuses.  
  • In January, Governor Hochul announced that the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research, the first-ever independent AI research center at any public university in the United States, would be established at the State University of New York at Binghamton. 
  • In November 2025, Governor Hochul announced an investment to construct a new biofabrication research and imaging facility on the State University of New York at Buffalo campus that will help discover new medicines and cures to save lives. 
  • Also in November 2025, Governor Hochul announced the major expansion of the State University of New York at Albany's RNA Institute to advance world-class research, training, and workforce development.
  • In October 2025, Governor Hochul announced the launch of the SUNY Brain Institute, a multi-campus initiative focused on expanding SUNY's groundbreaking neuroscience research.
  • In September 2025, Governor Hochul established the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, further catapulting New York's national leadership in groundbreaking research that saves lives, grows the economy, and improves national security.
  • In July 2025 SUNY launched the SUNY Research Leadership Academy to advance inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) fields.

State University of New York at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez said, "The University at Albany is proudly focused on research that benefits the public good, which is a core part of our mission as a public university. UAlbany researchers are using emerging technologies like AI and virtual reality to help people recover from debilitating injuries and bring direly needed mental health care to disaster zones. These initiatives, and all of UAlbany's research, aim to create innovations and discoveries that improve lives across New York and around the world. We are grateful for New York's continued support of essential research."

State University of New York at Binghamton President Anne D'Alleva said, "The SUNY Research Expo is a valuable opportunity for Binghamton University to highlight the significance and the impact of our research to our partners in state government. The advances our faculty, staff, and students are making in areas such as AI, battery technology, and the health sciences not only deepen our understanding of the world, but also drive investment, entrepreneurship, and economic development across New York. We in SUNY are deeply grateful for the strong support of our state legislators, whose shared commitment to public higher education continues to expand its benefits for our state and society as a whole."

State University of New York at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi said, "The SUNY Research Expo provides a valuable platform to showcase the University at Buffalo's world-renowned research and the innovative work of our faculty and students. It also provides a meaningful opportunity for our researchers to engage directly with elected officials and their staff, sharing how our discoveries are making a difference in the health, well-being and prosperity of communities across New York State."

SUNY Downstate President Dr. Wayne J. Riley said, "SUNY Downstate advances research that contributes to improving health in Brooklyn and across New York State. Our faculty, trainees, and students focus on solutions that strengthen clinical care, expand scientific discovery, and address health disparities. Events like the SUNY Research Expo highlight the vital role SUNY institutions play in improving lives through research and innovation."

SUNY ESF President Joanie Mahoney said, "At ESF, good research is a given, but it's connective moments and events like these that help us see the larger picture and continue to advance our work on bettering scientific and environmental research. We were excited to have Dr. Jennifer Goff and Dr. Josh Millspaugh represent ESF. Their research spans from microscopic biological processes to large-scale ecosystem management, and these ventures are critical to New York's environmental future."

SUNY College of Optometry President David Troilo said, "The SUNY Research Expo was an excellent opportunity to share a sample of our clinical research with elected officials and their staff. This year, we highlighted work in myopia management, pediatric optometry, and low vision. Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, usually begins in childhood and gets worse over time. It has become a major public health concern, affecting nearly 50 percent of the population and increasing the risk of many vision-threatening eye diseases. Low vision can result from several eye conditions that may lead to blindness, and our research helps people with visual impairment better navigate everyday life. At the College, discoveries from our laboratories and the Clinical Vision Research Center are closely connected to our education and patient care programs, helping us to advance eye care and improve lives."

SUNY Polytechnic Institute President Dr. Winston Soboyejo said, "As I look across the SUNY system and the remarkable work showcased at the SUNY Research Expo, I am reminded of the extraordinary impact our faculty and students have when curiosity, creativity, and collaboration come together. At SUNY Polytechnic Institute, our researchers are advancing new technologies, deepening knowledge, contributing to national defense, and preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers. We are proud to contribute to this collective effort and grateful to stand alongside our SUNY colleagues in demonstrating how public university research strengthens New York's economy, security, and quality of life."

State University of New York at Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith said, "Stony Brook is advancing research and innovation across disciplines to benefit our great state and nation, from developing breakthrough therapies and technologies in biomedical engineering and biotechnology to pioneering new frontiers in quantum information science to exploring how AI can accelerate science and engineering discovery. We are thrilled to participate in the SUNY Research Expo to showcase the bold, creative and impactful work of Stony Brook faculty and students as well as to celebrate the widespread research excellence across the SUNY system."

SUNY Upstate Medical President Mantosh Dewan, MD, said, "Upstate Medical University has increased its research mission, with a more than 60 percent increase in expenditures over the last five years. The work of our faculty has touched on cancer, attention deficit disorders, autoimmune diseases, infectious disease, and diseases of the eye, among others. Especially noteworthy is the research we are conducting with our Vector Biocontainment Laboratory, a state-of-the-art, high-containment facility established with NYSUNY 2020 funding to expand our capacity to address public health threats like public health threats like Lyme disease, West Nile encephalitis, Zika, dengue, and Powassan encephalitis. Through research, academic medical centers move medicine forward—bringing new understanding, new therapies, and new hope to patients."

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

Share this:

       

 
Contact:
Holly Liapis
518-320-1311
Email the Office of Communications