Early-stage research earns record $1.5M in New Jersey Health Foundation awards

New Jersey Health Foundation (NJHF) has awarded more than $1.5 million in seed funding to Rowan University researchers this spring, reaching a record high. The grants will support 34 early-stage efforts, empowering investigators to gather crucial evidence needed for larger research grants. Ultimately, the awards could help drive innovative ideas toward clinical implementation. 

In a testament to Rowan’s expanding research efforts with local health systems, several new projects include collaborators at Virtua Health, Cooper University Health Care and Inspira Health. 

Mary Staehle and Erik Brewer (Department of Biomedical Engineering, Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering) are leading two projects that bridge the university with external partners. With Virtua Center for Organ Transplantation’s Nasser Youssef, MD, one effort aims to understand how enhanced pre-hospital medical imaging and segmentation correlate with organ transplant outcomes. 

With collaborators at Virtua, Inspira and the New Jersey Department of Health, a second project will explore the potential use of artificial intelligence by emergency medical services practitioners to optimize pre-hospital patient triaging.

Kingsley Yin (Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine) is working with Virtua’s Emilio Mazza, MD, to develop an autoantibody profile as a novel biomarker for sepsis. Earlier detection and intervention in this life-threatening inflammatory response could prevent organ failure and improve survival rates. 

Dimitri Pestov (Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine) is working with Virtua’s Chun “Dan” Choi, MD, to explore potential biomarkers for injuries to tissue following a stroke or blockage. 

Patrick Hwang (Department of Biomedical Engineering, Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering) is collaborating with Thomas Sacchetta, DPM, at the Virtua Health Foot & Ankle Clinic to speed healing of diabetic foot ulcers. 

Vince Beachley and Sebastian Vega (Department of Biomedical Engineering, Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering) are working with Cooper’s David Fuller, MD, to explore new technologies for manufacturing materials for peripheral nerve repair.

Additional NJHF grants include: 

College of Science & Mathematics

• Acquisition of the Malignant Phenotype while Remaining In Situ, Mary Alpaugh
• Development and Pilot Evaluation of an Autism Resource Cart to Support Nurses in Health Care Delivery to Autistic Patients, Christina Simmons
• Development of Novel Targets within the MAPK Pathway for Cancer Drug Innovation, Zhihong Wang
• Inclusive Health Care for Young Mothers and Their Children: Actionable Guidance for Providers and Systems of Care, Meredith Jones

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering

• Artificial Thermal Nociceptor, Amin Nozariasbmarz
• Cell Toxicological Responses to PFAS Exposure and Remediation, Zhiming Zhang
• Enhancing Diabetic Wound Healing via Ultrasound-Assisted PRF Delivery in A Multi-responsive Injectable Hydrogel, Mei Wei
• Future Health Innovators: Student Engagement in Identifying and Solving Community Health Needs, Anu Osta
• Noninvasive and Real-time Facial Wound Healing Monitoring with Infrared 3D Imaging, Ben Wu
• Pain Location Tracking for Early-Stage Diagnosis Based on High-Performance Electroencephalogram Receiver, Ben Wu 
• Unlocking Sustainable Pharmaceutical Ingredients: One-Step Conversion of Whole Wood Components into Bio-Based Amines, Jun Hee Jang

Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts

• Artist in Residence (AIR) Pilot Program Serving Patients and Health Professionals at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Morgan Yacoe, George Family Center for Healing Arts

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University 

• Assessment of Microplastics in Lung Tissue: A Comparison of Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Biopsies, Elizabeth Cerceo
• Evaluation of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Novel Antimicrobial Compounds, Valerie Carabetta
• Targeting Therapy-Resistant Multiple Myeloma with a Novel Pan ALDH Inhibitor: A New Frontier in Overcoming Relapse, Manoj Pandey
• The Role of NRF2 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Subtype Transformation and the Impact on Treatment, Samera Hamad

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

• Catecholamine Dysfunction in Attention and Impulsivity in an Alzheimer's Disease Rat Model, Mark Niedringhaus
• Characterizing Novel Lung Carcinoma Cultures for Drug Target Discovery and Validation, Vincent Manna
• Inhibiting Hedgehog Signaling in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A New Therapeutic Avenue, Archana Kumari
• Medical Student Patient Navigation Program to Enhance Medical Education and Improve Prevention Screening in Residents of Southern New Jersey, Phillip Collins
• Mitochondrial Gene Expression in Fungal Pathogens: Insights into Unique Mechanisms, Michael Henry
• Role of the Brain HGF/cMet System in Neuroprotection and Anti-inflammation after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, David Devilbiss and Renee Demarest
• Screening for Inhibitors of Candida Auris Rmd9-RNA Interaction in the Search for Novel Antifungal Drugs, Dmitriy Markov 
• Training Program to Educate Geriatricians to Deliver Contextualized Care, Leonard Powell

School of Earth & Environment

• Exploring Health and Social Benefits of Park Visits: The Dual Influence of Quality and Proximity, Mahbubur Meenar

College of Education and College of Humanities & Social Sciences

• Factors Associated with Perceived Readiness to Reunify with Minor Children: Insights from Incarcerated Parents, Parole Officers, and Prison-Affiliated Professionals, Nicole Megan Edwards and Kimberly Houser 

Rowan-Virtua Rita & Larry Salva School of Nursing & Health Professions

• GoldenBytes: A Nutrition Education and eHealth Literacy Program for Community-Dwelling Older Adults living in Rural New Jersey, Dara LoBuono