Menendez, Booker announce $26M for Rutgers University, NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault, NJ Department of Health and La Casa de Don Pedro

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) announced Wednesday a combined total of $26,462,670 to Rutgers University, the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, New Jersey Department of Health, Rutgers’ Biomedical and Health Sciences, and La Casa de Don Pedro.

These grants will provide funds for research regarding neurological disorders, diabetes and endocrinology, sexual assault prevention and education, nursing and substance use disorder training, and head start projects.

“Research, prevention and education programs, and critical trainings are all examples of what our organizations here in New Jersey are doing daily to provide the highest level of care, treatment, and services for residents throughout the state,” Menendez said. “From state universities to non-profit organizations, we are all working toward a future with less illness, more support and better education to keep our most vulnerable and underrepresented community members safe, healthy, and thriving.”

“These grants are vital investments to improve health outcomes and the well-being of communities across the state,” Booker said. “They will fund health research, allow all New Jerseyans to access state-of-the-art care, and strengthen public health.”

 The following will receive funding:

• Rutgers University, Clinical Research Related to Neurological Disorders: $585,892
• NJ Department of Health, Public Health Emergency Response: $16,927,878
• Rutgers University, Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships: $19,948
• NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault Prevention and Education: Assessing Coalition Capacity: $125,830
• Rutgers’ Biomedical and Health Sciences, Integrated Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Training Program: $514,972
• Rutgers’ Biomedical and Health Sciences, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Research: $573,979
• Rutgers’ Biomedical and Health Sciences, Clinical Research Related to Neurological Disorders: $401,239
• La Casa de Don Pedro, Head Start Projects: $7,312,932

Rutgers University will utilize these grant funds to support their exploratory and developmental clinical research into neurological disorders using stem cell therapy and investigations into mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration. According to the National Institutes of Health, there is overwhelming evidence of impaired mitochondrial function as a causative factor in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease among others. Rutgers University’s Biomedical and Health Sciences will receive grant awards to support their diabetes, endocrinology and metabolic research projects as well as a training program designed to support substance use disorder (SUD) and traineeships for nurse anesthetists.

With this grant, the New Jersey Department of Health will continue to provide health services to the public health departments across the state to further their ability to effectively manage and respond to a wide range of public health threats through the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement. The New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault will utilize their grant to fund the Rape Prevention and Education program which prepares a sexual violence prevention strategy to implement across the state and country that is focused on advancing health equity.

La Casa de Don Pedro, a nonprofit resource center located in Newark, will receive funds to support their Head Start projects. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start programs provide support for a child’s development from birth to age five, actively engages parents, and includes early learning and development, health, and family well-being.

Sen. Menendez has been a strong proponent for the health services, research and support programs New Jerseyans need. This month, Sens. Menendez and Booker announced a combined total of $25 million to the North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI), Rutgers University’s Biomedical and Health Sciences, and the New Jersey Department of Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for substance use and addiction research programs, allergy, immunology, transplantation and PFAS-Contaminated Drinking Water exposure research programs.

In May, Sen. Menendez introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to increase the diversity of participants in all National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded trials to enhance the inclusion of women, racially and ethnically diverse individuals and people of all ages in all NIH-funded trials. In January, the Senator joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in co-leading the introduction of two bills in the Senate that would cement and build on the important progress that has been made to tackle Alzheimer’s disease.

The bills would reauthorize the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act until 2035.