NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science has received $39,673,786 over seven years from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant, awarded through the New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science (NJ ACTS), aims to strengthen the infrastructure supporting clinical and translational research throughout the state.
Beginning May 1, 2024, the award will enable NJ ACTS to expand its statewide program, originally established in 2019 to accelerate the integration of research discoveries into patient care. Led by Rutgers in partnership with Princeton University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and RWJBarnabas Health, NJ ACTS fosters collaborative research initiatives designed to address both scientific and operational challenges within the healthcare system. An earlier NIH grant of $29 million supported the launch of NJ ACTS in 2019.
Dr. Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, underscored the significance of this new funding, noting that it will advance clinical translational science and support critical clinical trials. “This grant enhances our ability to conduct essential clinical trials and train the next generation of scientists, ensuring that New Jersey residents have access to the latest treatments,” Strom said.
NJ ACTS has established a collaborative framework to speed the translation of research findings into improved patient care. The initiative brings together research teams comprising scientists, patient advocacy groups, and community members to address systemic challenges in clinical and translational research.
Dr. Reynold Panettieri, Rutgers vice chancellor for translational medicine and science, highlighted the alliance’s success in building partnerships among academic, clinical, state, and community organizations. “Our collaboration with RWJBarnabas Health has allowed us to expand clinical research, connecting the basic science work of our 200-plus investigators to patient care across the state,” Panettieri said.
The initial NJ ACTS funding proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The infrastructure enabled Rutgers to lead major research efforts, including becoming the second-best global recruiter for Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine Phase 3 clinical trial. The NJ Heroes Too outreach program also expanded access to COVID-19 testing in underserved communities. Additionally, Rutgers Health emerged as the lead institution for identifying distinct serum markers under the NIH’s pediatric RECOVER Program, helping researchers nationwide understand COVID-19’s long-term effects on children.
Key Achievements Under the 2019 Grant
- Creation of a Clinical Research Data Warehouse in partnership with RWJBarnabas Health—a secure, federally compliant repository that assists physicians and researchers in gaining insights into diseases and treatments.
- Launch of a pilot grant program to support cutting-edge research and encourage collaboration among alliance members.
- Development of the Clinical Research Coordinator Badge Program, which accelerated certification for research support staff and clinical trial personnel.
- Support for professional growth among junior faculty and trainees, leading to significant research on topics such as mortality rates among gallstone disease patients following Medicaid expansion and the impact of parental mental health on children’s well-being.
Focus Areas for the New Grant
The new award will further translational science in New Jersey by emphasizing:
- Launching and promoting complex non-oncology clinical trials, including gene therapy, while positioning Rutgers as a top destination for trial sponsors.
- Building community-engaged research networks.
- Enhancing diverse workforce development, particularly in implementation and dissemination science.
Over the next seven years, NJ ACTS will also prioritize expanding machine learning and artificial intelligence initiatives, as well as translating evidence on opioid overdose prevention into practice. Examples include developing algorithms for automated COVID-19 detection from chest X-rays and identifying drug side effects.
This substantial investment underscores New Jersey’s commitment to healthcare innovation and its position as a global leader in medicine, all with the goal of improving health outcomes for the state’s nearly 9 million residents.
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