Assemblymember Kelles – Cornell Veterinary Diagnostic Center Receives Nearly $20 Million From State Budget For Expansion

New York Assemblymember Anna Kelles (AD-125) announced the Cornell Veterinary Diagnostic Center has received funding through the New York State budget in the amount of $19.5 million dollars for the expansion of the NYS Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at the facility. 

Kelles says she assisted in securing the funds along with New York State Senator Lea Webb, Assemblymember and Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Donna Lupardo, Senator and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Michelle Hinchey, as well as a team from Cornell University.

The funding will go towards a 26,000 square foot expansion for additional labs, offices, and workstations. 

“The lab plays a key role in protecting public health by conducting robust pathogenic testing on both animal, and during times of great need, human populations to monitor outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus.”

Kelles said in a release.

The Cornell Veterinary Medicine Program has been in operation for nearly 100 years and works to protect communities throughout the state and country. 

“Given the growing prevalence of viral outbreaks in wildlife due to climate change and the occurrence of viral mutations leading to the transfer of diseases across animal species and to human populations this expansion of a world class viral research laboratory could not be more timely.”

Kelles continued in a release.

The labs will also further the education of Cornell’s Veterinary students.