Senate Resolution No. 1726

BY: Senator JACOBS

HONORING Norma J. Nowak, Ph.D. upon the occasion
of her designation as recipient of the 2017 Athena
Award by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to publicly
commend those outstanding individuals within the State of New York whose
lifelong dedication to medical research results in groundbreaking
discoveries which improve the lives of those affected by the world's
most devastating diseases; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Norma J. Nowak, Ph.D. upon the occasion of her designation as recipient
of the 2017 Athena Award by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership; and

WHEREAS, Norma J. Nowak received this prestigious award for her
steadfast support for the goals of women professionals, and providing
significant and selfless assistance on their behalf; she is truly
dedicated to promoting the status of women in the Buffalo Niagara
region; and

WHEREAS, Norma J. Nowak holds the title of Executive Director of the
University at Buffalo's New York State Center of Excellence in
Bioinformatics and Life Sciences; she is a highly regarded researcher
and a recognized leader in the field of human genomics; and

WHEREAS, Her research contributed directly to the Human Genome
Project, as well as to genomic-based approaches to understanding
heritable disorders and cancer; Norma J. Nowak is also the founder and
Chief Scientific Officer of Empire Genomics, LLC, a molecular
diagnostics firm focused on enabling personalized medicine; and

WHEREAS, This brilliant woman's efforts were instrumental in
obtaining more than $70 million in funding for research and
infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, Norma J. Nowak has authored and co-authored 144 research
articles, and was the recipient of the 2008 American Association of
Cancer Research (AACR) Team Science Award and the 2008 Thomas B. Tomasi
Award from Roswell Park Cancer Institute for her outstanding
achievements in science; and

WHEREAS, Currently, Norma J. Nowak is a member of the Buffalo Museum
of Science Board of Directors, and was recently appointed to the Empire
State Stem Cell Board for New York State and the founding Board of
Directors for 43North; and

WHEREAS, Norma J. Nowak is also at the forefront of a new era of
personalized medicine as a driving force in Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's
investment in the University of Buffalo, and the New York Genome Center
(NYGC) to create the Buffalo Institute for Genomics and Data Analytics
(BIG); and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Norma J. Nowak, Ph.D. upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the 2017 Athena Award by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Norma J. Nowak, Ph.D.