About the Center: The Cell & Gene Therapy Center (“CGTC”) was founded in 2001 at Cooper Hospital and the former UMDNJ-School of Medicine, as a combined clinical and basic research facility. The focus of our work is on neurological diseases that can be treated using the latest gene transfer technologies and cell transplantation methods. CGTC is a “translational” research facility, which means that we bring discoveries from the laboratory bench directly to the clinical setting.
The CGTC aims to identify potential therapeutic avenues arising from the characterization of models of human neurological diseases. The translation of basic research into therapy requires the investigation of disease mechanisms at multiple levels, ranging from the molecular to the behavioral. Investigators at the CGTC therefore adopt a multidisciplinary approach to the study of diseases of the brain and employ a wide range of laboratory techniques in this process.
The former UMDNJ and Cooper Hospital have hosted a NIH-sponsored Phase I/II study on Gene Therapy for Canavan Disease, in collaboration with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, under a major grant from the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS). This clinical trial represented the first use of adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) in the human brain, as well as the first viral gene therapy for a neurodegenerative disorder.
Achievements:
Rowan University Research Achievement Award ($2,000)
This award is for full-time permanent faculty members for their outstanding achievements in research activity, either for a specific project or for a body of work accumulated over multiple years. An individual or a group of faculty members working on the same project may be nominated. The awardee(s) must be employed by Rowan University at the time of the award presentation. The award will be presented as part of the campus award ceremony to be held on April 12, 2018.
FY18 Awardee: Jonathan Olshefski, Associate Professor of Radio, Television, and Film
Award for Excellence in Graduate Research ($500)
This award is for achievements in research as a graduate student. Students must be in attendance at the University for the entirety of the Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 semesters.
FY18 Awardee: Harpeet Singh and Hansol Chung, CMSRU Biomedical Sciences students
Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research ($500)
This award recognizes research achievements by undergraduate student(s) who is/are accepted in their chosen major or program. Also, students must be in attendance at the University for the entirety of the Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 semesters.
FY18 Awardee: Tyler Chen Jiang, History and International Studies student
Address: Department of Cell Biology
UMDNJ / SOM
42 E Laurel Road, UDP 2509
Stratford, NJ 08084
Phone: (856) 566-6334
Web Site: https://www.rowan.edu
