Dr. Simon Bates, adjunct professor at LIU Pharmacy, joined the X-ray analysis team at Rigaku Americas Corporation, a global leader in X-ray spectrometry, diffraction, and optics, as well as small molecule and protein crystallography and semiconductor metrology. Rigaku will utilize Dr. Bates’ expertise in X-ray analysis to tailor its systems to clients’ needs and push Rigaku technologies into new markets.
Long Island University Awarded New York State HECap Grant to Fund New Drug Discovery Platform
New Cutting-Edge Technology Platform Expands LIU’s Research Portfolio, Provides Opportunities For New In-Demand Degrees
Brookville, NY, April 2, 2021 – Long Island University, a nationally ranked University, took another step forward to expand its innovative research portfolio with the announcement of a $378,000 award from the New York State Higher Education Capital (HECap) Matching Grant Program. LIU will use the grant towards the construction of an open-access Drug Discovery Platform to be housed in the College of Pharmacy, the first pharmacy school in New York.
The Drug Discovery Platform will inspire student innovation in drug design and development, spin-off companies, as well as provide a local resource for critical research and development for companies to move products from design to market. Construction is scheduled to begin spring 2021.
“Long Island University continues to invest in cutting-edge initiatives to expand our degree offerings and training for careers in the 4th industrial revolution-inspired job market, and contribute to our region’s growing life sciences corridor,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline.
With HECap support, the Digital Drug Design Platform academic programs will provide opportunities for new BSE and MS degrees in Digital Health and Engineering at LIU for up to 500 new students, with additional students attracted to LIU for the Artificial Intelligence Digital Engineering-enhanced health curricula.
Dr. Randy Burd, senior vice president for academic affairs, added “We are honored to receive the HECap grant and appreciate New York State’s support for our new Drug Discovery Platform.”
The platform will include a FabLab for tech transfer, prototyping, and serve as a driver for economic development. FabLabs are digital fabrication laboratories equipped with an array of cutting-edge tools to convert ideas into 3D digital prototypes. This will provide a high-tech, digital platform at LIU’s Digital Health Institute to respond to demand from pharma and nutraceutical companies for R&D that can enable product success. The Drug Discovery Platform will offer end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, design, develop, and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. Initial estimates indicate up to 20 outside contracts will be implemented, with 30 LIU R&D projects benefitting from the FabLab.
“The Digital Discovery Platform will continue to keep LIU at the leading edge of research and innovation,” said Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy (LIU Pharmacy) Dean Dr. Arash Dabestani. “We are grateful for the HECAP grant which supports LIU’s continued efforts to meet the demand for high technology readiness for our students and our region’s growing pharma and nutraceutical sectors.”
The HECap Matching Grant Program is a competitive grant program that stimulates economic growth in communities across New York by providing matching funds to help independent institutions perform important upgrades to their campuses.
LIU Drug Discovery Platform
Long Island University’s drug discovery platform will include two laboratory components: The 3DEXPERIENCE® platform (3DS) for learning, certification and professional training; and the FabLab digital fabrication laboratory equipped with an array of cutting-edge tools to convert ideas into 3D digital prototypes.
The 3DS platform will be the Drug Discovery Platform’s discovery education and training arm and will rely on new, collaborative teaching/learning paradigms that seize new digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) environments — equipping students and professionals with skills and knowledge required to be successful global leaders in the 21st century digital-driven environments.
Activities in the FabLab will focus on generating innovative biological products for use in preclinical studies and Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, including generic drugs manufacturing, therapeutic antibodies, Diagnostic Kits, Immunotherapies, veterinary vaccines, and Neuromicrobiology, and thereby covering a diverse infectious disease, cancer treatment, and prevention portfolio. The goal of LIU’s state-of-the-art FabLab manufacturing facility is to meet all FDA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards when it reaches steady state. The FabLab will also offer testing in molecular genetics – specifically Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.
This interactive cyber learning platform will support various digital drug discovery courses, thus allowing students to explore technical problems from a systems-level perspective, including the opportunity to acquire aptitude in inter-connected algorithmic intelligence, science and engineering principles – required skills for understanding intelligent behavior, learning, and adaptation with machines, robots and body-less computer programs. Teaching pedagogy will emphasize virtual and real project-based learning that simulates contextual environments — making learning exciting and relevant for digital and AI solutions.
HECap Grants
Since the program’s inception, HECap Grants have created well over $1 billion in infrastructure spending across New York and more than 14,000 jobs, including 7,000 construction jobs that paid prevailing wage. For every $1 of state funds awarded, colleges and universities in New York match at least $3 in support of their projects. Prior HECap awards for LIU include a $618,250 grant in 2019 to for construction of a Confocal Microscopy Core Laboratory and a $500,000 grant in 2018 to build a Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory.
About Long Island University
Long Island University, founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its “value added” to student outcomes, LIU offers over 250 degree programs, with a network of 270,000 alumni that includes industry leaders and entrepreneurs across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.
Expert Executive Appointed as Visa Chief Diversity Officer
Visa has appointed Michelle Gethers-Clark ‘83, as its chief diversity officer and head of Corporate Responsibility. Gethers-Clark is a member of the Long Island University Board of Trustees, and she will work to ensure Visa’s organization and culture are inclusive while enhancing the company’s commitment to being responsible, ethical and sustainable. She previously served as president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Greensboro, North Carolina, and held various leadership positions across two decades with American Express.
Superintendent Elected President of National Association
Shari L. Camhi ‘90, superintendent of the Baldwin Union Free School District in Baldwin, New York, has been elected as the 2021-22 president-elect of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, representing the more than 13,000 public school superintendents nationwide. Under her leadership, the graduation rate at Baldwin Schools has climbed to 98%, ranking the high school among U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best High Schools for the first time. She was also selected as a prestigious “Leader to Learn From” by Education Week, and is a recipient of the ISTE Sylvia Charp Award.
Pharmacy Fellowship Features Revolutionary Analytics Platform
Agilum Healthcare Intelligence and LIU Pharmacy have joined forces to offer an innovative post-doctoral fellowship program centered on using Agilum’s industry-leading, proprietary analytics platform, Comparative Rapid Cycle Analytics. As part of the program, the fellows will spend two years working alongside faculty and staff at LIU Pharmacy’s drug information center and the experts at Agilum to identify areas of unmet need in assessing the efficacy, costs and outcomes of pharmaceutical drugs.
LIU Fencers Compete in NCAA Championships
Just two years into the program’s Division I tenure, the LIU women’s fencing team has made history, with three team members selected to take part in the 2021 NCAA championships: Laura Fekete in women’s epee, Anna Szántay in women’s foil, and Chejsa-Kaili Seck in women’s sabre. The trio dominated this season, going a combined 57-7 in their bouts. Seck went 20-3 in sabre, Fekete was 17-1 in epee, and Szántay was 20-3 in foil.
Innovative Programs Earn National Rankings
Best Value Schools ranked Long Island University among the best colleges in the nation in two categories. The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment is ranked seventh on the list of the country’s best entertainment management programs, and LIU is ranked 12th among the top 30 business schools in New York. Best Value Schools researches thousands of colleges and universities to find the very best schools that meet the most important needs of prospective students for the best possible price.
Accomplished Executive Named to Board of Directors
Keurig Dr. Pepper Inc. announced that Debra Sandler ‘07, an accomplished executive and entrepreneur, was appointed a director of the company’s Board of Directors. Sandler has spent nearly 35 years in the consumer and healthcare industries at leading global companies as well as start-ups. She is currently the founder and CEO of Mavis Foods LLC and, prior to that, she held several executive positions at Mars Inc., including chief consumer officer, president of Mars Chocolate North America and chief health and wellbeing officer.
Leading Veterinary Publication Names Student Ambassadors
Zaida Gomez, a student at the Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine, joined the inaugural Student Ambassador Program from dvm360, a leading publication in the veterinary community. Gomez is one of 55 students from around the world chosen to participate in the competitive program designed to elevate student voices and foster networking opportunities. Ambassadors will be contributing to dvm360 through articles, video, and networking with other students and key opinion leaders.
Lacrosse Coach Reaches Historic Career Milestone
Women’s lacrosse head coach Meghan McNamara earned her 200th career win when the Sharks defeated Central Connecticut State on March 13. Now in her 14th season as head coach, McNamara previously led LIU to two national championships in 2012 and 2013, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and five East Coast Conference titles. She continues to build on her historic legacy as the Sharks are off to a 4-1 start in the 2021 season.