The organizations have launched Empire Deerfield Discovery & Development (ED3) to fund and support projects in specified therapeutic areas, as well as treatments targeting patients who suffer from rare and hard to treat diseases. ED3 will accelerate these projects toward clinical validation and commercialization.

EDI is a nonprofit, New York-based drug discovery and development accelerator; it was created to translate academic discoveries into new medicines for commercialization by providing strategic support and pharmaceutical development expertise. The organization works in partnership with research labs at the University of Rochester, the University at Buffalo, and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

EDI's partner institutions will now be able to submit research and development proposals for consideration via the Empire Discovery Institute. Recommended proposals will be reviewed by an ED3 joint steering committee, whose membership comprises equal leadership representing EDI and Deerfield. Through ED3, Deerfield will provide funding, development expertise, and operational support for accepted proposals.