Stony Brook Research on Biomedical Engineering Showcased at SUNY Albany Expo

Stony Brook University's researchers carried Long Island's scientific work to the state capital last week, presenting advances in biomedical engineering and biotechnology at the annual SUNY Research Expo held March 17 at the New York State Legislative Office Building in Albany.

The 2026 expo featured researchers, students, and representatives from 10 SUNY campuses, with the Stony Brook delegation presenting their research on biomedical engineering and biotechnology alongside peers from across the state system.

Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith described the university's scope: "Stony Brook is advancing research and innovation across disciplines to benefit our great state and nation, from developing breakthrough therapies and technologies in biomedical engineering and biotechnology to pioneering new frontiers in quantum information science to exploring how AI can accelerate science and engineering discovery." She added that Stony Brook was "thrilled to participate in the SUNY Research Expo to showcase the bold, creative and impactful work of Stony Brook faculty and students as well as to celebrate the widespread research excellence across the SUNY system."

The Stony Brook presentation was one piece of a broader showcase. Researchers from the University at Albany demonstrated the use of virtual reality to aid rehabilitation patients, Binghamton University researchers demonstrated the use of artificial intelligence in robotics, and the University at Buffalo presented the DeepFake-o-Meter, an open access platform for detecting AI-generated images, video, and audio.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. framed the day in terms of public benefit. "SUNY's campuses throughout the state are conducting groundbreaking research that improves the lives, health, and safety of all New Yorkers," King said at the Expo. "The SUNY Research Expo is an opportunity to showcase the incredible work being conducted by our leading academics and students, and the event reinforces our commitment to achieving Governor Kathy Hochul's goal of doubling research throughout the SUNY system."

State Assemblymember Steve Otis, who chairs the Assembly Science and Technology Committee, put specific projects on the record. "From Stony Brook to Buffalo, Syracuse to Albany, New York City and around the state, SUNY science and technology teams are conducting cutting-edge research and inventing new tools for the benefit of society," Otis said. "Projects presented included advanced microbe research to combat our climate change challenges, software to detect deep fakes, new inventions to improve childhood vision, tick-borne disease detection, and addressing AI mental health challenges for victims of natural disasters. SUNY is not only teaching, SUNY is also advancing the work of scientific research and inventing new and exciting breakthroughs. The EXPO showcased some of the countless stories that place SUNY as a leader in research in the academic setting."

Otis's mention of tick-borne disease detection carries particular weight for a Suffolk County audience. Lyme disease and other tick-transmitted illnesses remain a persistent public health concern across Long Island, making Stony Brook's foothold in that broader SUNY research ecosystem directly relevant to the region's needs.

In February, SUNY announced the launch of the SUNY Research Connect Portal to showcase the research profiles of nearly 7,000 SUNY researchers from 26 campuses, one of several steps the system has taken to advance Governor Hochul's goal. In September 2025, Governor Hochul established the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at Stony Brook University, further advancing New York's national leadership in groundbreaking research.

The SUNY Board of Trustees also weighed in, thanking Albany for its financial backing. "The SUNY Research Expo is another opportunity to recognize the groundbreaking research in artificial intelligence, medicine, quantum and other subjects that improves lives and powers New York State's economy," the Board stated. "We thank Governor Hochul, and state leaders, for their steadfast support and continued investment in research at SUNY.