Child Health Institute of New Jersey Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary | | |
The Child Health Institute of New Jersey (CHINJ) celebrated two decades of exceptional research and milestones during a special 20th anniversary celebration last week at the institute's headquarters on French Street.
The event featured remarks from the N.J. Lt. Governor Dale G. Caldwell (pictured right), as well as CHINJ Director Arnold B. Rabson, MD, the Laura Gallagher Chair of Developmental Biology, and professor of pharmacology, pediatrics, and pathology and laboratory medicine; Dean Amy P. Murtha, MD; and Vikas Dharnidharka, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics. Roger Fine, Esq., the institute's first Board of Directors chair, who currently serves in an emeritus role on the board, shared a look back at how the Child Health Institute has grown and gotten to where it is today. Current board vice chairs William R. Downey and Jeffrey Gaier, JD, closed out the remarks.
In addition, the event offered the opportunity to spotlight some of the scientific studies from CHINJ researchers and resident scientists Zhiping Pang, PhD, Henry Rutgers Professor of NeuroMetabolism and director of the Center for NeuroMetabolism; M. Chiara Manzini, PhD, associate professor of neuroscience and cell biology; Bobby Brooke Herrera, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at the medical school and assistant professor of global health at Rutgers Global Health Institute; and Lawrence C. Kleinman, MD, MPH, professor and vice chair for academic development in the Department of Pediatrics and director of its Division of Population Health, Quality, and Implementation Science (PopQuIS); and trainee Reem Alatrash.
A Research Open House provided attendees with the opportunity to view posters with scientists and trainees and tour the labs, as well as network.
Congratulations to all involved for an inspired event, and on reaching this significant milestone! Thanks also to all the individuals and organizations who were instrumental in bringing the Child Health Institute to life, including Johnson & Johnson and J&J visionaries Roger Fine and Curt Weedon, "founding fathers" of the institute; the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Marco Navarro, long-time program officer at RWJF; the late George F. Heinrich, MD, who played a critical role in building the institute; Robert L. Trelstad, MD, former chair of pathology and the founding director of the institute; all Child Health Institute board members, past and present, for their leadership and support; our valued hospital partners, The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Children's Specialized Hospital; and so many more individuals whose partnership, support, and shared vision over the years have made the Child Health Institute what it is today.
| | Deans Murtha, Johnson Among the 2026 NJBIZ Health Care Power List | | |
Dean Amy P. Murtha, MD, and Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP, interim chancellor of Rutgers Health and dean of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, are among more than a half-dozen leaders from the medical school and throughout Rutgers who were selected by NJBIZ for this year's Health Care Power List.
In addition to Dr. Murtha and Dr. Johnson, the list included the following Rutgers leaders:
- Diane P. Calello, MD, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center based at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
- Joel C. Cantor, ScD, Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and the founding director of the Center for State Health Policy
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Vicente Gracias, MD, senior vice chancellor for clinical affairs at Rutgers Health, vice president for health affairs at Rutgers University, and chief academic officer at RWJBarnabas Health
- Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, dean of Rutgers School of Public Health
- Deanna Kerrigan, PhD, MPH, vice dean, Henry Rutgers Chair of Whole Person Health, and professor at Rutgers School of Public Health
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Steven K. Libutti, MD, the William N. Hait Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute and the senior vice president of oncology services at RWJBarnabas Health
The list also included Mark Manigan, president and chief executive officer of RWJBarnabas Health.
Among the highlights, Dr. Murtha was noted for her leadership as the founding dean of the future Rutgers School of Medicine, which -- pending LCME accreditation -- will be created through the integration of Rutgers' two medical schools.
Read more in the Rutgers Today feature, as well as in the NJBIZ Health Care Power List article here.
| | Accepted Students Day: Welcome to RWJMS! | | |
The medical school welcomed 180 students on April 13 in New Brunswick as part of an informational, enthusiastic Accepted Students Day.
Students gathered in the Arline & Henry Schwartzman Courtyard at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where they were welcomed by current medical students, staff, and faculty, including Dean Amy P. Murtha, MD, and Carol A. Terregino, MD, senior associate dean for education and academic affairs (pictured at right).
In addition to opening remarks, student interest group and program tabling activities, and a faculty and student panel discussion/Q&A, the event included tours of the hospital and the new medical school space in the HELIX, where the incoming class will be the first class of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School students to do their pre-clerkship courses. New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) also supplied the class and tour-goers with custom Rutgers "Class of 2030" hardhats!
The day was rounded out with performances by the medical school's a cappella group, the Ultrasounds, and Heartbeat student dance group, as well as a networking dinner.
Congrats to all on a fantastic day, and we look forward to welcoming our incoming class in our new home in the HELIX!
| | Researchers Analyze Regulatory Impact of 'Forever Chemical' Limits in Tap Water | | |
Levels of toxic "forever chemicals" in New Jersey's public water systems dropped by as much as 55 percent after the state moved to limit contaminants in drinking water, according to a Rutgers Health researcher who analyzed 19 years of monitoring data from throughout the state.
The study, led by Hari S. Iyer, ScD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology and in the Section of Cancer Epidemiology and Health Outcomes at Rutgers Cancer Institute and published in Environment International, represents one of the first formal evaluations on whether state-level regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) effectively reduce contamination.
PFAS are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, firefighting foam, and other products. Called forever chemicals because they resist breakdown and accumulate in the human body, PFAS have been linked to elevated cholesterol, immune dysfunction, liver damage, low birthweight, and cancer. An estimated 99 percent of Americans have detectable PFAS in their blood, and even low concentrations in tap water can produce blood levels more than 100 times the drinking water concentration.
Dr. Iyer's team analyzed about 12,000 monitoring results for three PFAS from 47 community water systems serving about 45 percent of the state's populations and found not only a decrease in levels, but also a decrease in the share of water samples exceeding safety limits -- from 49 percent to 15 percent for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and from 24 percent to 2 percent for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).
Learn more in the Rutgers Today feature here.
The study also was featured in NJ Spotlight News on PBS and on PIX11, among other media outlets.
| | Dr. Mark Sauer Reflects on a Distinguished Career | | |
When Mark V. Sauer, MD, MS, arrived at Rutgers in late 2017 to serve as chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, he was already a nationally recognized leader in reproductive endocrinology, known for pioneering work in egg and embryo donation, fertility care for HIV-positive patients, and reproductive ethics. But he wasn't looking for another long-term chair role. He was looking for impact.
Now, as Dr. Sauer prepares to step away from his roles at the medical school, he reflects on what shaped his medical journey and his path here, looking back at several accomplishments during his eight years as chair with pride:
- A dramatically strengthened residency program
- A curriculum and teaching platform rebuilt "from the ground up"
- Nationally recognized Grand Rounds with weekly speakers from across the country
- Robust journal clubs that teach residents how to analyze research
- Successful fellowship matches in maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, and other subspecialties
Read more in the feature here.
| | New Study Researches First C. diff Vaccine | | |
The medical school's Clinical Research Center is starting a clinical trial of a promising new vaccine for Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI).
Led by principal investigator Ahmed Abdul Azim, MD, assistant professor of medicine and associate chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the phase 3 clinical trial will enroll volunteers to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of a two-dose vaccine to prevent CDI in adults age 65 and older.
C. diff is a contagious bacteria that infects the colon and can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and other health complications. Severe cases can lead to hospitalization and be life-threatening. There currently are no available vaccines to prevent this potentially life-threatening infection.
The most common risk factors for development of CDI are prolonged antibiotic therapy, long-term hospitalization, advanced age, and comorbidities. Approximately 500,000 cases of CDI are reported each year in the United States, resulting in roughly 30,000 deaths. Annual CDI-associated mortality often is greater than mortality from influenza in this country.
Download the brochure to learn more about the study and who is eligible to participate.
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| Dr. Gregory Peck Receives $3.9M R01 Grant | | |
Gregory L. Peck, DO, tenure-track associate professor of surgery, has been awarded a $3,926,904 R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the role of the gut microbiome in the development of clinically significant gallstone disease. This project focuses on the mechanisms that drive progression from asymptomatic gallstones to symptomatic disease, a major and costly source of emergency surgical care in the United States.
Gallstone disease affects millions of Americans each year and accounts for more than 1.5 million hospitalizations annually. While many individuals harbor "silent" gallstones, a critical and unresolved clinical question is why some patients progress to severe, symptomatic disease requiring urgent intervention. Dr. Peck's research directly targets this gap.
His research builds on prior support from the Rutgers Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) KL2 Career Development Program, as well as a K23 Career Development Award and NIH Loan Repayment Program funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
This R01 funding supports a multidisciplinary collaboration involving the Department of Surgery, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, and Rutgers Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, as well as collaborating investigators at New York University and the University of California, Davis. Through this integrated clinical, microbiome, and translational science effort, the project aims to identify microbial and metabolic pathways that may serve as novel therapeutic targets.
The award further supports the establishment of a microbiome-focused research program within the Department of Surgery and advances ongoing efforts to improve prevention and management of gallstone disease.
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Kusum Punjabi, MD, MBA, associate professor of emergency medicine (pictured far right), and third-year emergency medicine residents Sidhant Gugale, MD, MPH, and Rahul Nayar, DO, spoke early this month at Guruji ka Mandir at Kilmer, New Jersey, a local Hindu temple, about the importance of advance initiatives.
The session focused on a variety of advance directives, including do-not-resuscitate (DNR) and do-not-intubate (DNI) orders and was featured online by South Asian television station ITV Gold.
The community health initiative was part of an IDEA grant awarded to the residents; they hope to extend the program to other faith-based institutions.
| | Susan Giordano Honored by HIPHOP Partner | | |
Susan Giordano, program director of the Homeless and Indigent Population Health Outreach Project (HIPHOP) (pictured center), was recognized by a long-time HIPHOP community partner during the Lazos America Unida International Women's Day celebration.
The organization presented Giordano with an International Women's Day Community Leadership Recognition for her "memorable contributions" to the community. "Your dedication, leadership, and commitment continue to inspire us. We are deeply grateful for your work and the positive impact you create every day," the certificate noted.
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
| | Dr. Gloria Bachmann on Panel at the United Nations | |
Gloria A. Bachman, MD, MMS, professor and associate dean for women's health, and co-director of the Women's Health Institute, served as a panelist on "Visible and Invisible Power: Celebrating Women Leaders Everywhere and Everyday Participants" at the United Nations. The panel was part of the events comprising the 70th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Dr. Bachmann is pictured far right below with Eliza Lo Chin, MD, MPH, executive director of the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), and Padmini Murthy, MD, MPH, Global Health Lead and NGO representative to the United Nations for AMWA.
| | Medical School Library Is on the Move! | |
The Robert Wood Johnson Library, currently located in the Medical Education Building (MEB) in New Brunswick, is moving to the HELIX. In addition to offering a more convenient location for faculty, staff, and students, the new space will provide significantly more seating options; private, reservable study rooms; classroom and computing spaces; a new podcast recording studio; and more.
In preparation for the move, the Robert Wood Johnson Library will close its MEB location on April 29.
Although the MEB space will be closed, Health Sciences librarians will provide in-person assistance at the Library of Science and Medicine service point, located on the third floor of the library's Piscataway-based facility. Those unable to visit the Library of Science and Medicine in person are able to access virtual library services through chat, email, and by appointment. You are also welcome to visit and study at any of the other Rutgers libraries.
| | Speed Networking for Aging-Related Research | | |
The medical school's Parker Health Group Division of Geriatrics in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and the Hub for Aging Collaboration at Rutgers School of Social Work are sponsoring an in-person speed networking event and lunch this week.
Thursday, April 23
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
303 George Street, Sixth Floor
New Brunswick
This fun, fast-paced event brings together Rutgers faculty, staff, postdocs, students, and trainees interested in aging-related research. It's a chance to meet new colleagues, share what you're working on, and spark potential collaborations. Possible areas of interest include age-friendly communities, cognition and dementia, serious illness, caregiving, and more.
Registration is required; register online here. For more information, please email here.
| | Addressing Mental Illness and Addiction in Latest Virtual Special Populations Seminar | | |
The New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science and Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research are hosting a Special Populations Seminar on "Addressing Mental Illness and Addiction among Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities." The event features Elizabeth Stone, PhD, MSPH, instructor of psychiatry at the medical school and core faculty in the institute's Center for Health Services Research. Dr. Stone's presentation will provide an overview of the current evidence on prevalence and treatment of mental illness and substance use disorders among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the United States, as well as future directions for research and considerations for clinical practice.
Tuesday, April 28
Noon - 1 p.m.
The event will be held via Zoom.
| | Multilingual Research Methods Workshop | | |
NJ ACTS is hosting the next event in its multilingual research methods series in collaboration with CrEER. This session will spotlight works in progress and will allow real-time feedback from peers and interdisciplinary experts. Post-doctoral students, junior faculty, and students are encouraged to present their works in progress. Focus areas include linguistic analysis, translation, community engagement, intervention and implementation design, and project management.
Wednesday, April 29
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
303 George Street
New Brunswick
Download the event flier here.
Register online here by April 22. Boxed lunches will be provided.
| | 2026 Morris-Inouye Lecture | | |
The Department of Pharmacology is hosting the 2026 Morris-Inouye Lecture Series, featuring Nobel Laureate David Julius, PhD, Morris Herzstein Chair in Molecular Biology and Medicine, and professor and chair of the Department of Physiology at University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Julius will discuss "Gut Feelings: Probing mechanisms of visceral pain."
Wednesday, May 6
4 p.m.
Main Lecture Hall
675 Hoes Lane West
Piscataway
A reception with refreshments will follow in the Great Hall. Download the event flier here. For more information, contact Marc Gartenberg, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology.
| | Featured Social Media Post | | |
5 medical schools ranked among best in NJ by US News -- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School -- Asbury Park Press
A quiet opening -- and a big statement -- for the HELIX -- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School -- BINJE
Doctors Explain the No. 1 Tip for Staying Safe in Extreme Heat -- Christopher Bryczkowski, MD -- Prevention, Yahoo!Health, Aol, and others
Supportive neighborhoods linked to slower cognitive decline in older immigrants -- Yanping Jiang, PhD -- Patient Daily
Spring Allergy Season Is Here: RWJBarnabas Health on What to Expect and How to Find Relief -- Catherine A. Monteleone, MD -- TAPinto
Virtual Surgical XR Platform at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute Enhances Neurosurgery Precision and Planning -- Robert E. Gross, MD, PhD, and Jonathan H. Sherman, MD -- RWJBarnabas Health
Chronic pain tied to almost twice the odds of smoking and vaping, survey shows -- Lauren Pacek, PhD -- MedicalXpress
Women in Radiology Making 'Herstory' -- Judith Amorosa, MD -- Diagnostic Imaging
Not sure if you're vaccinated? You're not alone -- Susan Boruchoff, MD -- Jersey's Best
Antibiotic Shows Noninferioirty Vs Colistin for Acinetobacter Infections -- Keith Kaye, MD, MPH -- Contagion Live
Analyzing the Role of CELMoDs in the Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma Space -- Mansi Shah -- Cancer Network
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