§ 2776. Powers and duties. 1. The institute shall have the following
powers and duties:

(a) to develop and promote scientific investigations into the cause,
prevention, methods of treatment, and cure of the acquired diseases of
immunosuppression;

(b) to develop and promote programs of professional education and
training and improvements in instrumentation as necessary adjuncts to
such scientific investigations;

(c) to develop and maintain a clearing house within the department for
information collected on acquired immune deficiency syndrome, including
a catalogue of the existing medical literature and the results of
existing epidemiological studies;

(d) to develop and promote an outreach campaign directed toward
targeted high risk populations to provide coordinated information
regarding the treatment and counseling programs and sources of financial
assistance available; and

(e) to promote the availability of supportive services for affected
persons.

2. Personal data in any investigations, reports and information
relating thereto shall be kept confidential and be afforded all of the
protections provided by the provisions of paragraph (j) of subdivision
one of section two hundred six of the public health law. The institute
may, however, from time to time publish analyses of such scientific
investigations in such a manner as to assure that the identities of the
individuals concerned cannot be ascertained.