– More than $78 million investment reinforces state’s leadership in scientific innovation

– $4.89M funds programs & scholarships to grow physician workforce

Jonathan Teyan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Associated Medical Schools of New (AMSNY), the consortium of New York State’s public and private medical schools, issued the following statement in response to the FY27 New York State Budget:

“New York’s investment in our future physicians and scientists and in the research that drives new treatments and cures have never been more important. AMSNY applauds Governor Hochul and the Legislature for their continued commitment to to providing opportunities for talented students to pursue careers in medicine, ensuring our scientists can keep making important discoveries here in New York and translating those discoveries into new treatments that benefit all New Yorkers.

With surging investments in research by competitors around the world and significantly increased competition for scientific talent, this budget signals that New York intends to continue its global leadership in biomedicine and the life sciences. AMSNY is grateful that New York State is responding to the challenge by advancing policies and investments that support science.

The FY27 budget continues support for the New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent (NYFIRST) through a $10 million reappropriation that will help New York’s medical schools recruit and retain world-class scientists conducting groundbreaking research in cancer, neurodegenerative disease, neuroscience and other critical areas of medicine. Since its launch, NYFIRST has helped make New York a destination for science, supporting job growth throughout the state, driving innovation in our life sciences economy and providing New Yorkers access to the latest clinical trials.

AMSNY is encouraged by the State’s $65 million commitment to the Bolstering Biotech Initiative, which will establish a much-needed clinical trials consortium, support workforce development and establish a new commercialization fund to speed the translation of new discoveries to treatments that benefit patients. We look forward to partnering with the State on this important work.

AMSNY is deeply grateful to the Governor and the Legislature for 25 years of continuous support for programs that create opportunities for students pursuing careers in medicine and science and expand New York’s healthcare workforce. The budget includes $3.644 million for the AMSNY Scholars in Medicine & Science programs, which support students across the educational continuum who are pursuing careers as physicians and scientists. These programs will serve more than 1,500 students across New York State in the upcoming year.

The Legislature’s $1.25 million investment in the AMSNY Scholarship in Medicine program will reduce financial barriers to medical education. Scholarship recipients commit to practicing medicine in shortage areas in New York State for at least two years after they complete their training, ensuring that more New Yorkers have access to the highest quality healthcare.

AMSNY thanks Governor Hochul, her administration and the New York State Assembly and Senate for their leadership and investments in the future of medicine and science.”

The budget also includes:

• $750K for the Fellowship to Address Oral Health Disparities, which helps expand access to care for patients with special needs and developmental disabilities. The one-year intensive program provides recent dental residency graduates with the necessary training to treat people with special needs, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Following the fellowship, fellows commit to one year in practice settings in New York State with significant special needs patient populations and continuing their teaching and research responsibilities.
• $3.445M for the Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program (ECRIP). ECRIP, which strengthens New York teaching hospitals’ ability to compete for federal research funding and supports the physician-scientists advancing clinical innovation and patient care.
• $8.5M for the New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (NY SCIRP). The program, financed by a surcharge on moving vehicle violations, supports research by New York’s scientists to treat and cure paralysis and other spinal cord injuries.

About AMSNY:

The Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) is the consortium of the public and private medical schools in New York State. AMSNY works in partnership with its members to advance biomedical research, expand opportunities in medicine and support access to high-quality and cost-efficient care for all New Yorkers. The combined total of New York’s medical schools economic impact equals more than $35 billion annually. AMSNY member schools include:

• Albany Medical College
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
• CUNY School of Medicine
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
• New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
• New York Medical College
• Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University
• NYU Langone Health
• Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
• SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
• Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
• Weill Cornell Medicine
• Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

For more information on AMSNY, please visit: www.amsny.org.