SUNY Geneseo Receives Gift, Enters Partnership with Eastman Kodak Company

Integrated Science Center (SUNY Geneseo/Matt Burkhartt)

SUNY Geneseo has partnered with Eastman Kodak’s Pharmaceuticals unit to create an advanced electrophysiology research lab on campus. 

A gift of $625K from Kodak to The Geneseo Foundation, Inc., has funded the acquisition of a Nanion Patchliner Octo automated patch clamp system, a cornerstone technology in modern electrophysiology. The donation also supports the acquisition of a manual patch clamp system, as well as a three-year supply of Kodak reagents, such as Phosphate Buffered Saline and Water for Injection, and a three-year service contract.

“We greatly appreciate this significant gift from Kodak and are excited about our new partnership with Eastman Kodak Company, which will provide scientific research opportunities for our faculty, students, and the broader community,” says Carolyn Campbell, interim vice president for college advancement. 

In recognition of Kodak’s support, the lab in the Integrated Science Center has been named the Kodak Advanced Electrophysiology Lab (AEPL) at SUNY Geneseo.

“The new Kodak AEPL will support cutting-edge neuroscience and pharmaceutical research,” says Tara Sweet, assistant professor of biology-psychology and the lead scientist with oversight for the lab. “Research and interdisciplinary learning opportunities will be open to faculty and students in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and neuroscience, as well as business administration and marketing.”

In addition to its availability to the campus community, the Kodak AEPL will actively welcome external academic and industry collaborations, serving as a shared resource to support innovative research.

“The Kodak Advanced Electrophysiology Lab (AEPL) at SUNY Geneseo will play an important role in expanding our pharmaceutical business,” says Jim Continenza, Kodak’s executive chairman and CEO.  “The lab can enhance our research capabilities to support future product development and give students hands-on experience with Kodak, allowing us to identify and recruit talented individuals to help support future growth.”

Among other applications, SUNY Geneseo will use the facility to test and validate new regulated pharmaceutical products developed by Kodak or in collaboration with their research and development teams. The partnership includes the development of student internships with Kodak, including quality assurance and interdisciplinary project-based internships with Geneseo’s chemistry, communication, and marketing departments.

The Kodak donation and partnership were made possible as part of the National Science Foundation’s Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program, which aims to scale partnerships and external collaborations through industry-aligned learning.

Sweet will be conducting test experiments in the Kodak AEPL during Spring 2026. A ribbon-cutting for the lab is scheduled for April 23.