Governor Hochul Announces Historic Cancer Care Training Partnership Between New York and Puerto Rico Medical Institutions at SOMOS Conference 2026

Partnership Will Advance Medical Innovation and Expand Access to Cutting-Edge Cell and Gene Therapies for Patients in Puerto Rico

Initiative Builds on Existing Relationship Between Buffalo’s Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and San Juan City Hospital / University of Puerto Rico

Governor Hochul today announced the launch of a the Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Clinical Fellowship, a groundbreaking cancer care training partnership between Buffalo’s Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and San Juan City Hospital / University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, during the traditional Governor’s Reception at SOMOS conference in Puerto Rico. The new Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Clinical Fellowship will help drive clinical breakthroughs that benefit patients in Western New York, Puerto Rico and across the country, strengthen Puerto Rico’s capacity to deliver some of the most advanced cancer treatments available, and build a pipeline of highly specialized physicians equipped to bring cutting-edge therapies to patients on the island.

“Expanding access to advanced cancer treatments requires continued investment in research, innovation and the physicians who deliver that care,” Governor Hochul said. “By working with our partners in Puerto Rico, we can help strengthen their ability to provide cutting-edge cell and gene therapies while creating new opportunities for collaboration and discovery at Roswell Park. Bringing our medical institutions together will allow us to make important strides in the fight against cancer.”

This intensive, one-year clinical fellowship will select its inaugural fellow for specialized training at Roswell Park’s world-class facilities in Buffalo. The fellow will gain advanced clinical experience in cellular therapy while benefiting from Roswell Park’s internationally recognized expertise and state-of-the-art research and manufacturing capabilities.

Roswell Park faculty leader Brian Betts, MD, a leukemia specialist who serves as Vice Chair of Strategic Initiatives in Transplant & Cellular Therapy at the Buffalo cancer center, modeled the new program on guidelines established by the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and is in San Juan to meet with San Juan City Hospital officials and Governor Hochul.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

From the world’s first chemotherapy research to the PSA prostate cancer biomarker, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center generates innovations that shape how cancer is detected, treated and prevented worldwide. The Roswell Park team of 4,000+ makes compassionate, patient-centered cancer care and services accessible across New York State and beyond. Rated “Exceptional” by the National Cancer Institute, Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country and remains the only one in Upstate New York. To learn more about Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Roswell Park Care Network, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email ASKRoswell@RoswellPark.org.

San Juan City Hospital

Is a tertiary-care general medical and surgical institution serving the Municipality of San Juan and communities throughout the island of Puerto Rico. As one of the island's major teaching hospitals, it plays an important role in medical education, clinical training, and healthcare research. The institution is also recognized for its specialized expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of complex medical conditions. Notably, San Juan City Hospital has received a High Performing rating in Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma.

Somos Puerto Rico

The Somos Inc Puerto Rico Conference is a major annual event aimed at uniting the Latino community and raising awareness about public policy issues affecting this demographic. The conference serves as a platform for legislators, scholars, business and labor leaders to address pressing concerns pertinent to the Latino community. The 2026 Somos Conference Theme is "Abriendo Caminos: 40 Years of Legacy, A Future of Possibility", as Somos is celebrating its 40 year anniversary and “Abriendo Caminos” translating to “blazing trails.”