U.S. Senator Charles Schumer today paid a visit to the new Biotech Incubator at New York Medical College in Valhalla.

The 122,000 square foot Incubator is currently undergoing renovations and will soon host biotech companies' research operations, disaster preparedness work, clinical training and other support activities. The facility, once at capacity, is expected to create 140 full- time and 75 part-time jobs in the Hudson Valley.

Senator Schumer announced that he is calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support the Incubator's application to participate in public health emergency and countermeasure development with the Office of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The program helps accelerate the research and innovations needed to respond to public health threats such as emerging infectious diseases, pandemics and bioterrorism.

"I can see this will be a huge step towards making the Hudson Valley a national center of medical innovation and biotechnology," said Schumer. "Unfortunately we will always have to be on our toes and ready to respond to the latest threat from bioterrorism to infectious diseases. When a new threat appears on the horizon, I want the vaccine, the antidote or the cures to be produced right here in the Hudson Valley."

The Senator says he is "strongly urging" the Department of Health and Human Services to work with the Incubator to ensure the Hudson Valley will serve as a "first class biotechnolgy research center" to create good-paying jobs for residents in the region.

The sentiment was echoed by Laurence Gottlieb, Westchester County's Director of Economic Development. "As New York's Intellectual Capital, Westchester County is a key partner in the continuing expansion of the NY BioHud Valley biotechnology cluster. With federal funding as an accelerant, we believe this corridor will further evolve as a world-class medical research and development center."