Philanthropy Supports the Science of Discovery
- The David E. Bryant Trust Invests in Key Research at Albany Med
"Eureka!" This famous word, uttered upon the onset of unexpected discovery, serves as a reminder of the often serendipitous nature of scientific research. Scientists frequently begin an investigation with a particular goal in mind, only to have the preliminary results point them in unexpected and exciting new directions. Philanthropic support provides a flexible funding mechanism, enabling investigators to allow the science of discovery to guide their research.
For the past three years, Dr. Kevin Pumiglia, an associate professor within the Center for Cell Biology and Cancer Research, and his team have benefited from the generosity of the David E. Bryant Trust as administered by Bank of America. Support from the David E. Bryant Trust provides funding for Dr. Pumiglia's research into the molecular basis of angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels - and how it relates to blindness. This research has the potential to provide insight into the occurrence of conditions such as: Retinopathy of Prematurity which affects newborn children, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness among the young, and wet Macular Degeneration, which often afflicts the elderly. In addition, it has broader implications in the fields of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer treatment. The generosity of the David E. Bryant Trust allows Dr. Pumiglia to pursue novel concepts and develop preliminary data, possibly being eligible to receive formalized support from other external funding sources.
"Traditional sources of research funding are conservative by nature and want to see a track record of experimentation that supports the hypothesis. However, insights in science and medicine often come from taking research risks and looking in new directions that haven't been explored yet," explains Dr. Pumiglia. "Support from sources such as the Bryant Trust allows us to bridge this gap and successfully move a new idea into a new research program."
