
HealthAdvance Funded Projects
Explore the latest projects funded through our funding platform that aims to speed up the translation of biomedical discoveries into commercially viable diagnostics, devices, therapeutics and tools to improve health and patient care.

Rutgers professor Spencer Knapp, PhD, has been named a 2022 American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellow, joining 44 other higher education and industry luminaries from around the world. The ACS Fellows Program was created by the ACS Board of Directors in 2008 to recognize members of ACS for outstanding achievements in and contributions to science, the profession and the Society.

One of the most critical hurdles to developing CRISPR-based therapies for genetic disorders is the lack of effective delivery systems. To this end, this project aims todevelop a next-generation CRISPR delivery solution for fast and effective genome editing that supports the need for the CRISPR-based drug development market.

Tuberculosis is characterized by 10 million cases and 1.5 million deaths per year. New drugs are needed to reduce treatment duration and to treat drug-resistant infections. We propose a solution based on our preclinical drug lead (JSF-3285) that inhibits the essential ß-ketoacyl synthase and exhibits promising efficacy and safety profiles.

We have identified potent small molecule MIF inhibitors that reduce inflammation-associated cytokines in blood cell and mouse assays, and simultaneously exhibit favorable drug likeness properties including oral availability. They hold promise for the treatment of human inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

This project aims to advance nanoparticle-based contrast agents for pre-clinical imaging of tumors in small animals. The project focuses on (i) scaling up contrast agent synthesis, (ii) assembly of a prototype imaging system, and (iii) proof of concept studies to monitor tumor growth and response to therapy.

The prevention of microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on medical device/tissue interfaces is an urgent and unmet need. Thi surface functionalization technology, which is specifically effective in preventing biofilm formation on medical devices, such as implants, aims to address this critical healthcare problem.