Medical Affairs

"Improving quality of life and quality of care through innovation, exploration, and collaboration."

Funded Programs

Here’s a sampling of the Medical Affairs initiatives, projects, and programs funded by the Charitable Leadership Foundation.

CLF Medical Technology Acceleration Program, Inc. (MTAP)

Traditionally, CLF’s efforts in Medical Affairs have been squarely focused on medical research that will significantly impact the health of the general public. One of the best examples of the Foundation’s commitment to improve lives by funding promising, breakthrough technologies is MTAP.

MTAP bridges the gap between basic research at non-profit institutions and commercial development at for-profit organizations. With MTAP’s financial and technical support, including its expertise in licensing and patent protection, researchers at non-profit institutions such as universities and medical research centers can grow great ideas into real solutions addressing some of the world’s most pressing health problems.

MTAP supports medical research projects in a wide variety of areas, including:

• cancer
• heart disease
• stroke
• fatty acid transport
• neurology
• vascular biology

The program began in 1997 as part of CLF. Since 2002, MTAP has operated as a separate non-profit entity; however, the program is still fully funded by CLF.

Ordway Research Institute, Inc. (Ordway)

CLF’s funding focused on the four areas detailed below:

1. Administrative Support: To assist Ordway in establishing systems and procedures, as well as recruiting and retaining research scientists.

2. Retention and Recruitment Scientific Researchers: To promote and support medical research in the Capital Region by recruiting and enabling scientific researchers to increase research activities through the use of new equipment and lab tools.

3. Recruitment of Clinician Scientists: To recruit clinician scientists with significant, demonstrated achievements, and promise in basic and translational biomedical research, enabling Ordway research teams to advance the frontiers of medical knowledge and treatments.

4. Contingency Grant: To cover expenses related to the founding of Ordway, including the creation of an Office for Sponsored Research, which provides administrative and research grant administration services to Ordway’s four research themes:

1. host defenses/emerging infections
2. angiogenesis
3. genomics/pharmacogenomics/bioinformatics
4. nerve and heart cell rescue

Albany Medical Center Foundation (AMCF)-Dean’s Discretionary Fund: Assists the Albany Medical College with its primary mission to “promote medical science and instruction in the departments of learning connected there with.” In addition, the grant has helped generate a collaborative relationship between Albany Medical Center and Ordway Research Institute.

Center for Economic Growth (CEG)-Bioconnex: CEG is a private, not-for-profit, business-supported organization dedicated to developing and promoting regional efforts to attract high-tech talent and high-growth companies and to provide innovative services to bolster local businesses. CLF funding supports Bioconnex, a biotechnology focused network in Tech Valley that is dedicated to strengthening the competitiveness of the Capital Region and Tech Valley as the premier global location for biotechnology research, education, and industry.

Center for Advanced Illness Coordinated Care (CAICC): CAICC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization providing training and consultation in the Advanced Illness Coordinated Care Program (AICCP). AICC is a six-visit intervention of structured conversations and specialized care coordination for patients with advanced illness and their families.

CAICC is affiliated with The Life Institute, VA Healthcare Network, Upstate NY and Dartmouth Medical School. CAICC is engaged in education, training, and research in the field of advanced illness and end-of-life care and is directed by Dan Tobin, MD, a nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care.

Center for Medical Science, Inc. (CMS): As its primary and virtually only anticipated activity, CMS oversees and operates a building constructed and operated solely for medical research laboratory activities, which are performed by governmental or section 501(c)(3) entities. CMS contains laboratories of the Health Research Inc., State of New York Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, and Ordway Research Institute. The renowned architectural firm of Perkins & Will/Shaw designed the CMS facility to encourage and facilitate inter-institutional and inter- thematic collaborations.