By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-919266.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Kaleida Health and UB got another infusion of federal money Wednesday to help buy equipment for the new collaborative global vascular center in the medical campus.
United States Representatives Brian Higgins and Louis Slaughter presented Kaleida Health and UB with another nearly $300,000 to support the heart and vascular center. That brings the total federal funding to $626,000.
The grants will pay for the equipment and technology that officials say will make it a state-of-the-art facility. Elad Levy, MD, FACS, FAHA is a UB associate professor and director of stroke research for Kaleida. He said the center will distinguish Western New York as a leader in the fight against stroke and cardiac disease.
Kaleida Health President Jim Kaskie describes the nearly $300 million center as an academic and clinical condominium. The six lower floors will house an emergency room and Kaleida's cardiac and vascular operations. UB's translational research center will occupy the the top five floors.
The center is scheduled to open in September 2011. Staffing and operations will gradually be ramped up after that. Construction of the project is fully funded, But staffing for UB's research center will come out of the university's budget.
Kaskie said, even with cuts in state aid - and the failed UB 2020 legislation, he is not worried about UB being able to fulfill its commitment to the center.
However, Kaskie said other plans for expanding the medical campus could be delayed because of the defeated UB 20-20 legislation.