Cornell Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) in Biotechnology

The Cornell CAT was established in 1983 as one of the original group selected to foster economic development in New York State. Cornell’s funding leverages matching funds from corporate participants resulting in support for 25 to 30 research projects per year.

These projects range from basic research in innovative technology to applied research dealing with specific needs of industrial partners. The impact of these projects in terms of intellectual property development, increased economic benefit to New York State in jobs created and outside funding received, and the growth and retention of current New York State industry are reported annually. As an example, the Cornell CAT has funded research and provided technology transfer support resulting in 23 successful start-up companies since 1983.

In partnership with New York companies, the Cornell CAT supports research and development programs for Cornell faculty members in many diverse disciplines in the biological and physical sciences, human and veterinary medicine, and engineering. The diversity results in projects including plant, animal and human research in areas related to health, productivity and environmental issues. Thematic areas currently being supported through the Cornell CAT include:

• Agricultural genetics and biotechnology
• Biological pest control
• Bioremediation/biodegradation
• Computational biology
• Diagnostics and sensing technologies
• Genomics
• Healthcare and biomedical engineering
• Proteomics

The Center also provides funding and technical assistance for educational outreach. Local middle and high school teachers work with Cornell faculty to develop labs and curricular materials for K-12 science classes. The Cornell CAT funds an equipment lending library to provide supplies and equipment needed for teacher training and required for hands-on activities in public school classrooms. Teachers in the network now number 600 and student contacts number 15,800.

An important part of the Cornell CAT is the Bioresource Center (BRC). The BRC is a research service facility offering training and access to core technologies to both the university research community as well as to industrial researchers. The services currently available include peptide and DNA synthesis, DNA sequencing, DNA fragment analysis, protein sequencing, mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, microscopy and imaging, amino acid analysis, fermentation, and computer services. Additional high technology services, including micro array and proteomics, are currently being considered for inclusion in the BRC.

Industrial outreach is the responsibility of Roger Williams, Director of technology Transfer for the Center. “At the risk of over-simplifying, it is my job to find commercial applications for technologies being developed through the Center and to find commercial needs that may be served by Center resources. This means working with faculty and businesses to match needs with capabilities in order to develop viable projects that will benefit the residents of New York State.”

For further information on resources available through the Cornell CAT, contact Roger Williams at 607-254-4815 or rjw33@cornell.edu.