-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 +aIAA6ebd1KDR4UcCiOIwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-022693.txt : 20041208
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-022693.hdr.sgml : 20041208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041208160858
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-022693
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041208

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBANY MOLECULAR RESEARCH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001065087
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				141742717
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 15098
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203-5154
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5184640279

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 15098
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203-5154

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			D AMBRA THOMAS E PHD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001106073

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25323
		FILM NUMBER:		041191061

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 RIVERVIEW ROAD
		CITY:			REXFORD
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12148
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5183730301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001065087</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBANY MOLECULAR RESEARCH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMRI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106073</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>D AMBRA THOMAS E PHD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21 CORPORATE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 15098</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALBANY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, CEO &amp; President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>128000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4616865</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas E. D Ambra</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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