Future MVHS hospital in Utica could include research space for Masonic Medical Research Laboratory

UTICA, N.Y. — If the Mohawk Valley Health System’s (MVHS) hospital project moves forward, it could include research space for the Utica–based Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL).

The two organizations are “exploring an expanded partnership” that would locate a portion of the MMRL research facility within the new hospital, MVHS said in a news release issued last Friday.

Representatives from each organization have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which they consider the “first step” in that process, MVHS said.

MVHS is currently responding to a request for application (RFA) to secure $300 million in state funding to build a new hospital in Utica. The RFA must be submitted by Jan. 31.

MVHS is an affiliation of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC), both of Utica. The two organizations teamed up in March 2014.

MVHS and MMRL still need to finalize the scope and specific details of the affiliation, but a “major highlight” of the MOU is possible research space in the newly constructed hospital that would allow MMRL researchers and MVHS clinical staff to “collaborate in ways that were previously hindered by physical separation,” the organizations contend.

As the MVHS project moves forward, the staff from MMRL and MVHS will work to finalize the details of the MOU with a more formal agreement “anticipated in the coming months.”

“The signing of this MOU continues our work toward our mission to provide for excellence in healthcare for our communities,” Scott Perra, president and CEO of MVHS, noted in the news release. “There is incredible work being done at MMRL and we are looking forward to the opportunity to integrate that work with the clinical work at MVHS.”

The construction of a new hospital provides an opportunity to bring together the “specialties” of MMRL and MVHS, and to “capitalize” on each institution’s respective role in the health-care system. MVHS contended.

The goal would be having MMRL scientists and researchers working with MVHS clinicians on new research to generate clinical benefits.

“We are thrilled about the potential for this once in a generation opportunity for collaboration between our two nationally recognized institutions,” David Schneeweiss, president of the MMRL board of directors, said in the release. “We appreciate that Gov. Cuomo has recognized the value of MVHS to the Mohawk Valley with a significant investment, and hope that our partnership with MVHS will help to leverage that investment beyond the clinical floor and into the lab where cutting-edge discoveries are made.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com