UTICA -  the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. For people who do not know what the research lab is all about, scientists provide hope to millions of people worldwide who are affected by heart disease.

"When you understand a problem at its root cause we have a much better handle at finding treatments, finding cures to the problem," says Executive Director Dr. Charles Antzelevitch.

That is what the Masonic Medical Research Lab is all about. Antzelevitch says molecular genetics is the future of medicine and the local lab is known worldwide because of it.

"We have contributed to the understanding of why problems arise why sudden cardiac arrest occurs and we have contributed to finding the drugs necessary to combat these problems," he says.

If you flip through the pages of medical textbooks you will find chapters written by local scientists. did you know:

The Masonic Lab provided the first direct evidence linking SIDS to abnormal heart rhythms or that it contributed lifesaving knowledge about pacemaker implants?

"We're looking forward to solving more problems. The problem of sudden cardiac arrest is still a major problem in this country. It accounts for about 350,000 deaths per year. Every minute of everyday someone in the United States dies of sudden cardiac arrest," Antzelevitch says.

The Masonic Medical Research Laboratory is ready to take medicine into the future, with even more scientific breakthroughs.