Senators Lautenberg, Menendez Announce $8 Million for Health Care and Research Projects in New Jersey

June 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $8 million in federal funds to seven New Jersey Research institutions and one provider of neighborhood-based health care to conduct health care research and expand community-based care in New Jersey. The funds will support research in variety of areas, including mental health, cancer treatment and neurological disorders, and help families get medical care close to home.

“In this tough economy, we need to do all we can to help families afford to see doctor and get the health care they need,” Sen. Lautenberg said. “These funds will help keep our residents healthy and can lead to the breakthroughs that will help people live longer, healthier lives.”

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“In these times of economic difficulty and vulnerability, we must ensure access to quality health care is easy and affordable. These funds will help expand neighborhood-based care throughout New Jersey, while spurring development of life-saving breakthroughs and maintaining New Jersey leadership in key areas of medical research,” Said Senator Menendez.

The $8,255,309 will be divided as follows:

Neighborhood Health Services Corporation, Inc.

* $2,227,725 for neighborhood health centers

University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School

* $1,343,464 to analyze drug resistance strains of tuberculosis

* $390,000 to study ways to immunity to the “Toxoplasma” infection

* $351,000 to study the structure and function of biofilm agents

* $195,000 to study the proteins involved in the replication of the Hepatitis C Virus

* $195,000 for a sensory testing and genetic study

University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

* $500,000 for a high-resolution mass spectrometry system

* $390,000 for clinical research related to neurological disorders

* $78,000 to investigate gene therapy

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

* $371,581 to study the relationship between heavy drinking and violence

* $357,592 for mental health services and systems training programs

* $226,214 to improve testing for ricin intoxication

* $61,445 to study influences on reward-seeking behavior as it relates to drug abuse

Princeton University

* $25,000 for research tools called “LuxS Quorum-Sensing Inhibitors”

New Jersey Institute of Technology

* $281,375 for mental health research

Stevens Institute of Technology

* $231,571 to study the growth of biofilm, a structured community of microorganisms

* $79,000 for research related to neurological disorders

Montclair State University

* $199,356 to study eye movement to determine language comprehension

Kessler Medical Rehabilitation

* $77,500 to study the quality of life of individuals with Huntington’s disease

Hackensack University Medical Center

* $361,673 for cancer treatment research

Veterans Biomedical Research Institute

* $312,813 for clinical research related to neurological disorders

Source: Senators Frank R. Lautenberg