Health Research Inc. (HRI) has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice with the New York State Department of Labor announcing plans to eliminate 760 positions at its Buffalo, New York, location.
WARN Filing Details
According to the state WARN records, the notice was posted on Nov. 10, 2026, and identifies the action as a plant closure affecting employees at the organization’s Elm and Carlton streets site in Erie County. The workforce reductions are scheduled to take effect beginning Dec. 24, 2026.
The filing lists the reason as contract termination and comes amid legislation authorizing the transfer of HRI’s Buffalo Division to the Roswell Park Cancer Research Corporation.
The WARN Act of New York mandates that covered firms give advance notice of certain employment actions, such as mass layoffs and qualified plant closures.
HRI’s Buffalo Division to Transfer to Roswell Park
The workforce adjustments coincide with New York’s plans to transfer HRI’s Buffalo Division to the Roswell Park Cancer Research Corporation (RPCRC) in accordance with a June 2026 law.
In the State of New York, during the 2025-2026 legislative session, Assembly Bill A11547 was signed into law authorizing the transfer of the Buffalo Division of Health Research, Inc. to the Roswell Park Cancer Research Corporation (RPCRC).
That legislation ensures that transferring one corporate entity to another requires terminating the existing employment relationships. This means employees will be transitioned to the new entity (RPCRC), with roles and salaries equivalent to those that the employees were already under contract for.
Formal filings are still required even when positions will be transferred to ensure proper labor protections.
Under New York law, a WARN Act notice must be filed when 50 or more workers will be terminated.
About Health Research Inc.
Established in 1953, Health Research Inc. is a New York-based not-for-profit organization that provides funding and administrative support for public health and research programs.
HRI was initially established to support research programs at Roswell Park, which was then part of the state Department of Health. Over time, the organization expanded its services to support other state health agencies and research initiatives.
As Roswell Park is experiencing a transition to the State of New York’s public benefit corporation, officials agreed it was best to combine all of the grant administration duties directly under the Roswell Park Cancer Research Corporation. This move serves to align research staff with the cancer center’s core structure.
What the WARN Filing Means for Employees
According to New York State Department of Labor records, the HRI filing affects 760 employees, making it a significant workforce reduction recorded in the state in 2026. The affected workers represent approximately 96% of the company’s reported workforce of 791 employees, with all 760 positions listed at its Buffalo site in Erie County.
The New York State Department of Labor’s Regional Rapid Response team and the local Workforce Development Board are expected to be deployed to assist and oversee those employees who are affected by the notice with their transitions from HRI to the Roswell Park Cancer Research Corporation.
