A biohazard area inside Trudeau Institute. Photo: Brian Mann

The last top executive at the lab, Dr. David Woodland, stepped down in July 2011.  Woodland left after atteempting to spearhead an effort to move the facility to a new site in Florida.

"We're going to continue the basic research, as well as expand into other areas, which has already been started at the institute," Goldfarb said.

Trudeau has made efforts to convert more of its efforts to "translational" research, meaning that scientists begin looking for actual health applications, rather than pursuing basic science.

Just last week, Trudeau announced a new partnership with a facility in China.

The laboratory has also faced severe financial difficulties in recent years, and the departure of some top resarchers.  Goldfarb said he felt that trend was beginning to improve.

"As you've seen with some of the large grants that have come in recently, and with some of the approaches we're going to be taking going forward.  I think that the best days of Trudeau are ahead of itself."

Goldfarb said he supported Trudeau Institute remaining in Saranac Lake.

Chris Knight contributed to this story.