Across all campuses, research jumps at Rowan

Rowan University is well on its way to realizing its goal of conducting $100 million in sponsored research by 2023, posting an increase in funded projects in 2013-14 of nearly 500 percent compared to 2011-12. Rowan tallied approximately $5 million in sponsored research in 2011, compared to close to $30 million in 2014.

“The faculty have enthusiastically responded to our designation as a state research institution by performing outstanding research that is competitive on a national basis with other universities that have a long history of research excellence,” said Dr. Shreekanth Mandayam, vice president for Research and executive director of the South Jersey Technology Park.

The State of New Jersey’s designation last year of Rowan as a state research institution and the integration of the School of Osteopathic Medicine both contributed to the increase in sponsored research, but that is just part of the picture. Faculty members have increased their efforts to obtain funds from national entities, major businesses and important foundations.

One of the most notable grants this year was for $3.05 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Rowan will use the funds to launch an ambitious plan to transform health care delivery through new education and research programs. The 18-month project will develop innovative approaches that respond to the region’s emerging needs for access to affordable and effective health care services. (See more at: http://today.rowan.edu/home/news/2014/02/18/3m-rwj-foundation-funds-health-care-innovation-research)

Professors and their students are conducting their research in a wide range of disciplines on Rowan campuses in Glassboro, Stratford and Camden.

Federal funders include the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency, among dozens of prestigious agencies, with the largest amounts from the Health Resources and Services Administration and National Institutes of Health.

State funders include the New Jersey Department of Children & Families, Department of Transportation and State Council on the Arts, among many more, with the largest amount from the Higher Education Facilities Authority.

Funders also include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Swedish firm Elekta Instrument AB, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Google and PSEG Nuclear, among dozens more organizations.

Projects range from Chemical Engineering’s Dr. Jennifer Vernengo’s “Self-assembling Biomimetic Hydrogels with Bioadhesive Properties for Intervertebral Disc Repair” (National Institutes of Health, $315,933) to the School of Osteopathic Medicine’s Dr. Rachel Pruchno’s ”Social Capital and Resilience of Older People Exposed to Hurricane Sandy (Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response, $401,558) to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University’s Dr. Warren Goldman’s  “Joint Virtual Reality Laboratory for Integrative Neuro-Imaging” (Elekta Instrument AB, $298,110).

“We expect even more growth in the near future,” said Dr. Kenneth Blank, senior vice president for Health Sciences. “A major focus of our research will be conducted by interdisciplinary teams in health-related areas, but we also anticipate growth across our campuses in very diverse fields.”

He added, “While faculty are, of course, critical in pushing us toward our goal of conducting $100 million in sponsored research in 10 years, we also know that working with other organizations is  essential for us to reach that goal, from our own Rowan University Foundation that started a $5 million venture fund this year to such nationally recognized industry leaders as Lockheed Martin, which is expanding its work with our College of Engineering and South Jersey Technology Park.”