The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce along with its staff, board, ambassadors and catalyst will be celebrating a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the renovations at Masonic Medical Research Institute at 2150 Bleecker Street, Utica.
The renovation of the second and third floors of MMRI is a long overdue project, officials said, adding that MMRI has expanded its footprint several times during its 60-year history, including a major addition in 1988 when a second floor was added to the Royal Arch Masons Wing.
In 2002, a $400,000 renovation project brought the facility up to date with handicapped accessibility and other aesthetic improvements to the building’s facade. The last major addition occurred in 2004, when the $2 million molecular genetics and molecular biology wing opened.
“We often say that money spent on treatment benefits the patient, money spent on research benefits humanity. I believe that this investment has the potential to save lives and help people in the region, across the country and around the world,” said David F. Schneeweiss, president of the MMRI Board of Directors. “We want to thank Gov. (Andrew M.) Cuomo and his staff as well as our Utica area legislators for supporting this project which is vital to helping us recruit and retain the scientists who will use these new facilities to make cutting-edge discoveries with the potential to save lives.”
“Our goal is to build a division of research that will include disciplines from hypertrophy and heart failure; congenital heart disease and development; metabolism, obesity, and diabetes; electrophysiology, and molecular biology, which together will guide innovations and discoveries that culminate in cures. The new lab space design will attract and house talented, enthusiastic research scientists who will lead in each of these exciting areas of research, with the ultimate goal of fulfilling the mission of the MMRI – to save lives” Dr. Maria Kontaridis said.
Over the past 12 months MMRI has worked in partnership with VIP Structures, a fully integrated architectural, engineering, and construction firm, to ensure the project’s success.Chamber members and guests are welcome to attend this ribbon cutting ceremony on MMRI’s 60th anniversary.