Newswise — Nutley, NJ, October 12, 2023 – The Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) has formed a new institute aiming to fight infections, cancer, and inflammatory diseases by finding a better way to restore and bolster the human immune system in its responses to disease.
The Institute for Immunologic Intervention (or “3i”) is searching for ways to unleash new advances in immunology to beat disease and save lives. The expert scientists in this new institute include basic researchers, physician-scientists, and leading clinicians who are working seamlessly to tackle major health problems of our time.
The Institute is dedicated to advancing the understanding of fundamental mechanisms of infectious immunity, tumor immunity, alloimmunity, and autoimmunity within clinical contexts. By fostering collaborations with the CDI, the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center and its consortium partner Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and beyond, the 3i strives to apply this knowledge towards innovative strategies that enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, interventions for autoimmune and alloimmune conditions, and the prevention of infections.
“We have recruited world-class talent to give this Institute critical mass,” said David Perlin, Ph.D., chief scientific officer and executive vice president of the CDI, and professor of medical sciences at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “These scientists are tackling disease at the basic level of discovery - but with an eye toward finding real-world solutions in the near future. This is what the CDI is all about.” Perlin is also a professor at Georgetown University.
“We are excited about the possibilities - and also about the collaborations already happening among this group of scientists,” said Binfeng Lu, Ph.D., the director of the 3i.
The scientists whose work is critical to the 3i, and their fields of expertise, include: Lu: cancer immunology and immunotherapy, and inflammatory biology; Yi Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.: (CAR) T cell biology, tumor immunity and alloimmunity; Hai-Hui “Howard” Xue, M.D., Ph.D.: T cell biology, tumor immunity; Johannes Zakrzewski, M.D.: cancer immunotherapy and immunosurveillance; Rachel Rosenstein, M.D., Ph.D.: inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; Sivia Lapidus, M.D., M.D.: pediatric rheumatic conditions and autoinflammatory disorders; Jigar V. Desai, Ph.D.: innate immunity, fungal infections; Benjamin Tycko, M.D., Ph.D.: genetics and epigenetics in human development and disease; Rena Feinman, Ph.D.: influence of the gut microbiome on antitumor immunosurveillance in patients with multiple myeloma (MM); Kevin Tong, Ph.D.: modeling the genetic progression of colorectal cancer for targeted therapies and personalized medicine; and Alvin Makohon-Moore, Ph.D.: evolutionary dynamics of cancer.
Virtually all of these 3i scientists also have faculty appointments at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
The research cores supporting the 3i include flow cytometry, microscopy, tissue biorepository bank, bioinformatics and statistical analysis, gene-editing, computational chemistry, and clinical immunology assays, among other expertise.
“The expertise brought together in this one Institute at the CDI is a thrilling development,” said Ihor Sawczuk, M.D., FACS, president of Academics, Research and Innovation for Hackensack Meridian Health, the founding chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute (HMHRI) of which CDI is part, and also associate dean of clinical integration and professor and chair emeritus of urology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “Working across an ecosystem like this is what will drive our science forward.”
The 3i laboratories are all supported by federal grants. Most recently, in support of this mission, the 3i received a philanthropic grant in the amount of $500,000 to support the Institute’s work in immunology and multiple myeloma research from the D’Aloia Family Foundation, led by G. Peter D’Aloia, an accomplished business executive who previously worked at several large national corporations, and his wife Marguerite. Mr. D'Aloia previously made a major gift to Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center.
“I believe that the CDI has a great approach to finding cures for some of today’s most difficult diseases, in particular its work on using the body’s immune system to fight cancer and its focus on treatment and cures for multiple myeloma,” said Peter D’Aloia. “It is my hope that this gift provides meaningful help in allowing the CDI to continue the good work being done within the organization.”
To make a gift in support of the Institute for Immunologic Intervention (3i) at CDI, please visit GiveHMH.org/CDI or call William Evans, executive director at the CDI, at [email protected] or 201-880-3100.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION
The Center for Discovery and Innovation, a member of Hackensack Meridian Health, translates current innovations in science to improve clinical outcomes for patients. More than 29 laboratories, 185 professional researchers and physician-scientists at the CDI have set their sights on cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and other acute and chronic diseases. Clinical need drives the scientific insights, and their application, for these researchers, as shown in the real-time response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in new diagnostics, therapies, and surveillance abilities. The CDI leverages a new wave of scientific advances involving genetics, cell engineering of the human immune system, and imaging to better diagnose, treat and prevent disease through personalized medicine approaches. For additional information, please visit www.hmh-cdi.org.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey.
The network’s notable distinctions include having more U.S. News-ranked hospitals than any other health system in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2022-23. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties, more than any other hospital in New Jersey. Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, are ranked #1 in the state and top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital Report. Additionally, their combined nephrology program ranks in the top 50 in the United States. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (HMHRI):
HMHRI leads and organizes a connected ecosystem bringing together clinicians, scientists, and educators to respond to the health problems of our time, in real-time. HMHRI is dedicated to accelerating discovery, innovation, and translation of scientific breakthroughs that address unmet clinical needs.
RSS