News, sights & sounds from UAlbany, August 2026

AUGUST 2026

RESEARCH FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD

$7.3M in New Research Grants Mark 'RNA Day' at UAlbany

Researchers at UAlbany's RNA Institute are helping lead $7.3 million in new federally funded grants that will explore the toxic effects of woodsmoke on firefighters and how DNA damage that accumulates over time contributes to cancer and other aging-related diseases. In the photo above, Dr. Andy Berglund, co-director of the Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics (CERRT) and director of the Univeristy at Albany's RNA Institute, addresses attendees at RNA Day at UAlbany on July 27, 2026. (Photo by Zach Durocher)

Williams-Raycheff Endowed Professor of Biology Thomas Begley is the co-principal investigator on both UAlbany RNA Institute projects funded by the National Institutes of Health.

(Above) Members of the Begley Lab include (from left) Chetna Mathur, Sophie Von Bargen , Tom Begley , Safi Eddine Khiati and Amber Hoffer . (Photo by Zach Durocher)

In this video,

Dr. Tom Begley explains how common refrigerator staples may help combat the toxic chemicals firefighters are exposed to every day.

IN OTHER NEWS

State Funding Keeps Decades of Whiteface Mountain Field Station Research Data Flowing

From Slime to Circuit Boards: UAlbany's Summer Bus Tour Kicks Off

A COMMUNITY OF ENGAGED SCHOLARS

UAlbany Chemist Wins $2M to Build Protein Library, Target ‘Undruggable’ Cancer Protein

Master of Public Health Students Support Local Community Health at RISSE

Driven to Serve —Emergency Management Major Lands Spot in Elite Public Policy Institute

MUST-LISTENS FOR YOUR PLAYLIST

Making Connections — Wireless Research with Public Impact

NYS Senator Pat Fahy chats with UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez on the state of higher education in New York.

SNAPSHOTS

Eureka! A summer of discovery... NYS Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara '01 (left) was on hand to congratulate students participating in the Girls Inc. Eureka! program during its summer showcase at UAlbany's Performing Arts Center on July 30. The free, five-year college- and career-readiness program, a partnership between Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region and the College of Arts and Sciences, emphasizes STEM exploration for middle- and high-school-age girls. (Photo by Brian Busher)

Celebrating summer scholars... U.S. Representative Paul Tonko presented awards to participants in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) University at Albany Summer Research Program (UASRP) and SUNY Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Summer Research Program during a July 28 celebration on UAlbany’s uptown campus. The awards recognized the students’ dedication and commitment to their research.

Sparking innovation... NYS Senator Pat Fahy (left) presented the Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics (CERRT) Spark Award to RNA Society CEO Kristian E. Baker during UAlbany’s RNA Day celebration in the Campus Center Ballroom on July 29. With Sen. Fahy are (from left) Eric Wagner, professor at the University of Rochester and co-director of CERRT; Andy Berglund, director of UAlbany's RNA Institute and CERRT co-director; and Dr. Baker. The CERRT Spark Award recognizes significant contributions to RNA research, education and innovation. (Photo by Zach Durocher)

Powering a cleaner future... UAlbany leadership and staff provided an overview of the University’s design-ready Thermal Energy Network System (TENS) for representatives from New York State government, SUNY, and local business and industry on July 30.

TENS is part of UAlbany’s comprehensive decarbonization roadmap designed to create a cleaner, largely electric system for heating and cooling the campus, replacing fossil fuels over time.