Advancing Infectious Disease Research: The Cynamon Lab

Michael Cynamon, M.D.Michael Cynamon, M.D.
Established in 1979, the Cynamon Lab is the longest-standing research lab at the Veterans Health Research Institute of CNY, Inc. Focused on infectious diseases, the lab's primary area of study is mycobacterial infections—many of which are notoriously difficult to treat, especially due to increasing drug resistance.

With support from the NIH, academic institutions, and pharmaceutical partners, the lab conducts preclinical research to test both new and existing compounds for their effectiveness against these challenging infections. The goal: to identify promising drug candidates that may advance to clinical use in treating human disease.

One of the lab’s central targets is Mycobacterium tuberculosis—the bacterium that causes TB, the leading infectious killer globally, responsible for more than 1.25 million deaths each year.

The lab has a long-standing collaboration with LigaChem Biosciences, helping test their antituberculosis compounds. Notably, one of these compounds has advanced to clinical trials.

In addition, through partnerships with Quercus, AN2 Therapeutics, MicuRx, and Spero Therapeutics, the lab has evaluated preclinical compounds against a range of pathogens including:

  • Mycobacterium avium
  • Mycobacterium abscessus
  • Cryptococcus species
  • Candida species

This vital research contributes to the discovery and development of novel treatments—with the hope that one day, even the most persistent and life-altering infections can be effectively treated and cured.

Research Spotight: Transforming Veterans’ Mental Health Care After Hospitalization

At the Veterans Health Research Institute of CNY, Inc., we are proud to be part of a groundbreaking national research collaboration aimed at preventing suicide among veterans recently discharged from psychiatric hospitalization—one of the most vulnerable populations across the VA health system.

Thanks to a $3.1 million grant from the Warren Alpert Foundation, our team—led by Dr. Todd Bishop, a leading investigator at the VA Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention—is partnering with researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brown University to evaluate a promising new approach: the Coping Long Term with Active Suicide Program (CLASP).

This study, one of the largest of its kind, enrolled veterans from seven VA inpatient psychiatric units nationwide. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either CLASP’s structured, remote post-discharge support or standard care. In total, over 850 veterans are part of this important trial.

We are investigating whether CLASP can significantly reduce suicide-related behaviors—including deaths by suicide, overdose, and nonfatal attempts—in the critical six months following discharge. We are also analyzing how patient characteristics and care environments impact outcomes.

At the Veterans Health Research Institute of CNY, Inc., we are committed to innovative, data-driven solutions that directly improve the lives of veterans and their families. The CLASP study exemplifies our mission: advancing evidence-based care that supports our veterans when they need it most.

Veteran silhouette sitting on ground and reflecting