CMSRU opens new neurosciences laboratory to accelerate discovery and patient-focused research

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) marked a major milestone in its expanding research enterprise with the ribbon cutting of a new neurosciences laboratory, a 5,267-square-foot space designed to accelerate discovery and deepen collaboration in the study of neurological disease. The Neurosciences Research Laboratory was made possible through funding from the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors (RURCBG).

Rowan University, CMSRU and RURCBG leaders and CMSRU faculty gathered to celebrate the opening, which represents a significant investment in CMSRU’s strategic research priorities and strengthens the academic-clinical partnership between CMSRU and Cooper University Health Care.

“This space represents far more than a renovation,” said Annette C. Reboli, MD, dean of CMSRU. “It reflects a shared vision and sustained support from university and RURCBG leadership. The beneficiaries of this work will be patients in our region and across the country.”

A hub for collaborative neuroscience research

The new laboratories will support cutting-edge research focused on conditions affecting millions of Americans, including neurodegenerative disease, stroke and addiction. By bringing multiple research teams together in one shared environment, the space is designed to foster collaboration across complementary experimental approaches and accelerate the pace of discovery.

CMSRU faculty working in the laboratories will collaborate closely with clinicians at the Cooper Neuroscience at Cooper University Health Care, strengthening the pipeline from bench research to bedside application.

The space can accommodate three or four research teams, supporting both current faculty and future growth in the neurosciences.

Building momentum in a strategic research area

Neuroscience is one of CMSRU’s fastest-growing research areas. More than 30% of CMSRU’s biomedical science faculty conduct neuroscience-related research, supported by more than $10 million in active external funding from organizations including the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association and the National Science Foundation.

During the event, Rowan University Chancellor Anthony Lowman highlighted how the new laboratories fit into a broader vision for life sciences research and innovation in Camden.

“This lab is just the beginning,” Lowman said. “Between the Joint Health Sciences Center, new research space and our partners across the region, Camden has the potential to become an epicenter for life sciences research, innovation and incubation.”

Lou Bezich, vice chair of the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors and senior vice president and chief administrative officer at Cooper University Health Care, emphasized the role of collaboration in bringing the project to fruition.

“It’s one thing to approve an investment,” Bezich said. “It’s another to see it come to life in a way that expands education, research and health care for this city and beyond.”

Positioned for national impact

CMSRU has experienced rapid growth in research funding over the past five years, according to Darren Boehning, PhD, associate dean for research, with more than $25 million in active external grants.

“This lab will have a transformational impact by allowing our neuroscientists to work side by side and tackle complex problems related to brain health,” Boehning said.

With the opening of the neurosciences laboratory, CMSRU continues to strengthen its research enterprise while advancing discovery, innovation and patient care in Camden and beyond.