Rutgers is invited to partake in global biomedical research program to further scientific advancement

Rutgers was recently invited to join the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR) Global Scholars Program, a program that allows innovative scientists to receive funding for their breakthrough projects toward drug discovery and clinical research.

The research program will work to combine entrepreneurial aspects with scientific discoveries in order to create an interdisciplinary approach toward biomedical research, according to the press release.

Michael E. Zwick, senior vice president for research at Rutgers, said in the release that this program would provide a pathway to further the University’s academic and research mission. 

“We embrace opportunities to team up with outstanding investigators, scholars and institutions to continue translating research and discoveries into innovative solutions with impact,” he said.

Through the program, principal investigators from Rutgers will be selected to participate after the University receives approval on their proposal from NIBR. They will then have access to disease study areas, drug content and translation of research expertise within the NIBR, according to the NIBR.

The investigators will also have the opportunity to advance research into early development stages by taking large risks in their research for significant scientific rewards.

Bishr Omary, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and research at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, said in the release that Rutgers’ participation in the program will aid the University in its research advancements. 

“By participating in this program with Novartis, Rutgers will further its excellence as a leader in clinical, translational and fundamental research and innovation,” Omary said.“ This opportunity provides our investigators with potential resources to bring their bench and preclinical work closer to the bedside.”

Najoua Borkadi, executive director for research business development, said the main significance of the program is that it will bring exciting discoveries and technologies through enhancing collaboration between parties in academia.

“This kind of partnership helps our researchers and innovators develop and deliver new therapies and drugs that could save lives,” Borkadi said. “As a comprehensive public research university, it is essential to our mission to conduct innovative research that breaks new ground for wide services, solutions and clinical care that help individuals.”

Research areas for NIBR include autoimmunity, transplantation and inflammation disease, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, exploratory disease research, immuno-oncology, musculoskeletal diseases, neuroscience, oncology, ophthalmology and tropical diseases, according to the NIBR.

To implement a research proposal, Borkadi said that investigators must first submit their proposals to the NIBR’s competitive review and selection process where scholars will receive the chance to list the disease areas that will be researched and platform technologies of interaction used to conduct the research.

Borkadi also said after the call for proposal, an initial two-page non-confidential pre-proposal form has to be submitted by principal investigators to the Rutgers reviewing committee. This committee includes reviewers from an innovation ventures team and a business development team that helps the investigators finalize their research proposals.

If selected for a proposal, research projects among all institutions will receive up to $1 million over three years. This grant differs from traditional grant support such as National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation funding as it allows for researchers to look into topics that are not traditionally covered by grant support, Borkadi said.

“We see this collaboration ... as a key milestone in our strong and growing relationship with Novartis,” Borkadi said. “We're excited to join other peer world-class institutions and showcase Rutgers’s innovative research. We hope that this program will provide a pathway to further our academic and research mission and drive innovation that will solve all the challenges.”