SYRACUSE — Syracuse University (SU) has announced the signing of an agreement with SRC, Inc., a nonprofit research company, that transfers the assets and employees of its bioforensics group to the school.
The Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute (FNSSI) in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences signed the agreement with SRC, which is headquartered in Cicero.
As part of the agreement, three SRC scientists will become SU employees and continue their research as part of FNSSI.
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The agreement will build on the work that SRC’s bioforensics group has already started, George Langford, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said in a news release.
“Acquiring their core competencies, which include bioinformatics and the analysis of environmental signatures, enhances and underscores our commitment to forensic-science training and research. This agreement significantly contributes to our research capacity within FNSSI, while benefiting the nation’s forensic and intelligence communities.”
“This transition is a great example of how our research and development partnerships can make a larger impact on keeping America safe and strong,” SRC president Paul Tremont said in the release, adding that FNSSI will help the group’s technology grow and prosper.
SRC’s decision to shift its focus to other areas prompted the transfer, James Spencer, executive director of FNSSI, said.
“SRC has developed considerable expertise and capabilities in bioforensics research,” said Spencer. “The timing of the transition couldn’t be better, given the growing need for methodologies involving bioterrorism threats, chemical detection and analysis, and sample provenance and origin.”
Spencer also serves as the college’s associate dean for science, mathematics, and research, as well as chemistry professor.
FNSSI stands to gain “state-of-the-art” DNA capabilities, along with expertise in complex worldwide-biological systems, including powerful research tools that determine the geospatial origins of biological samples, Spencer contended.
“These samples include heroin, cocaine, and other plant-based materials,” he said.
The agreement calls for FNSSI to acquire nearly $1 million in biochemical-research equipment, in addition to specialized-research materials, inventions, and scientific expertise, according to SU.
FNSSI is the nation’s first program to focus on scholarship in forensic and national-security sciences, according to the university.
Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, it works to advance the scientific base and capabilities of forensic science and to train both forensic scientists and those in allied professions, SU said.
SRC and its for-profit manufacturing subsidiary, SRCTec, together employ more than 1,000 people at 15 locations in Colorado, Maine, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
