Our Story
About
Us
Scores of promising drug targets never move out of academia because investigators lack the
resources, expertise, and funding needed to convert their research discoveries into viable drug
candidates. To overcome this challenge, the University of Rochester, University at Buffalo, and
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center entered into a $47 million partnership with Empire
State Development to form the Empire Discovery Institute.
Our company’s mission is to accelerate the translation of academic innovation into
commercially viable drug candidates and life-saving therapies. By bridging the gap between
academia and the pharmaceutical industry, we provide researchers with the support and
infrastructure to advance their discoveries while offering investors access to a pipeline of high
potential, de-risked assets ready for development.
in March 2018...
Empire State Development executes an incentive grant with the University of Rochester to build a roadmap for the creation of Empire Discovery Institute. In August 2018, Adam Tulgan joins Empire Discovery Institute as Director of Operations to operationalize the new company and oversee the execution the company’s multi-year operating grant disbursement agreement with New York State. Adam later became the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
Martin Graham joins Empire Discovery Institute as the company’s founding Chief Executive Officer. Martin is an experienced drug developer and serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the development of small-molecule drugs and biologics. Martin launches the Medicines Discovery Award program to invest in and advance promising academic drug targets toward commercialization from the University of Rochester University at Buffalo, and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. He also begins cultivating a diverse Advisory Board of pharmaceutical, scientific, technical, and business development veterans to help Empire Discovery Institute identify, evaluate, select and translate academic discoveries through the early stages of development towards clinical proof of concept and commercialization. The Advisory Board has grown in size over the years, and plays a pivotal role advancing the projects in the company's pipeline.
in April 2019...
Ron becomes interim CEO following Martin’s retirement and his new role on the company’s Advisory Board.
In august 2022...
In November 2022...
Molly Mesko joins Empire Discovery Institute as Director of Portfolio Development and Alliance Management. Molly oversees the program development, project management and stewardship of sponsored projects in the company's growing portfolio. She helps to serve as the company’s interface with investigators, external contract research organizations, scientific advisors, and industry partners.
Empire Discovery Institute’s Board of Directors appoint Ron Newbold as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, Ron brings over 30 years of business development and alliance management experience leading business teams in negotiating over $1.5 billion in announced pharma/biotech deals.
In addition, Weimin Valenti joins the company as Chief Business Officer. Weimin leads the development and execution of the company's commercialization strategies and she builds collaborative strategic partnerships that grow the company's existing IP portfolio.
In January 2025...
ACCEPTED PROJECTS RECIEVE:
From expert guidance and funding opportunities to promotional support and access to specialized tools, each selected project will be equipped with the essential support needed to thrive throughout the program and beyond.
CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FILING, REGULATORY STRATEGY, AND IND PREPARATION
CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FILING, REGULATORY STRATEGY, AND IND PREPARATION
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCT COMMERCIALIZATION
COMPANY INCORPORATION AND MANAGEMENT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING
DRUG DISCOVERY & DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE
Working with empire discovery institute
Empire Discovery Institute collaborates with academic research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and venture capital firms in areas that include, but not limited to:
in March 2021...
Empire Discovery Institute enters into a collaborative partnership with Deerfield Management Company , which leads to the creation of a new joint accelerator company called Empire-Deerfield Discovery & Development (ED3).
Cancer
Neurological
Disease
autoimmune
disease
Respiratory
disease
central nervous
system conditions
rare and
orphan diseases
diabetes
obesity
cardiovascular disease
nash
chronic
kidney disease
rare
blood disorders
Our Values
1. Innovation
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2. Collaboration
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3. impact
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What We Do
Target to hit
HIT TO LEAD
Lead Optimization
Pre-Clinical
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Empire Discovery Institute enters into a collaborative partnership with Deerfield Management Company, a healthcare investment firm, to launch Empire-Deerfield Discovery & Development (ED3), a company that accelerates the translation of scientific discoveries into new therapies.
in April 2021...
In January 2022...
Empire Discovery Institute enters into a collaborative partnership with global pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S to launch the LeapRx initiative. LeapRx co-invests, incubates and accelerates innovative drug discovery and development projects from the company's founding academic partners and from premiere outside academic institutions for the treatment of diabetes (type 1, type 2) obesity, cardiovascular disease, NASH, chronic kidney disease, and rare blood disorders.