Research pathway at rutgers university, newark (RP-run)

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded Rutgers The State University of New Jersey $379,077 on May 19, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to establish the Research Pathway at Rutgers University, Newark (RP-RUN), a research training program for undergraduate students in biomedical science.

RP-RUN provides full-year research exposure to a minimum of 125 undergraduate students at Rutgers-Newark, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution serving predominantly first-generation college students in the Greater Newark and urban Northern New Jersey region. The program delivers hands-on exposure to biomedical research in immunological and inflammatory diseases, including wet-lab and dry-lab technologies, advanced imaging camps, and multi-omics workshops. Participating students develop critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, written and oral communication skills, and receive professional guidance on career development in health sciences and research fields. Within the 600 undergraduate biology majors at Rutgers-Newark, 90 percent identify as pre-medicine with health science career aspirations. The program is directed by three established investigators at the New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers-Newark with complementary expertise in education, mentoring, leadership, administration, and research. An institutional pilot program already funded 60 students across three semesters, demonstrating institutional commitment to the initiative.

Performance occurs in Newark, New Jersey, with a period of performance from May 19, 2026, through April 30, 2031. The award is a Project Grant under the Assistance Listing for infectious disease research.

Abstract

Research experience provides undergraduate students with improved critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, written, oral communication skills vital for their success in competitive higher education programs, as well as for training the next generation of research scientists and medical doctors. This "research pathway at rutgers university, newark" (RP-run) program provides the diverse student population at rutgers-newark opportunities to participate in federally funded biomedical research, learning wet- and dry-lab technologies, and developing their professional communication skills. Rutgers-newark serves the residents of greater newark and urban northern NJ, is a federally designated hispanic-serving institution, and the majority of students are first-generation college students. Within the six hundred undergraduate students majoring in biology, 90% identify themselves as pre-medicine with aspiration for careers in health science related fields. The intellectual focus of this program is on immunological and inflammatory diseases, one of the strongest research areas within the rutgers health. Most participating faculty members work on niaid-funded research. The program will connect the two largest research and teaching enterprises within newark and will be directed by three established investigators in njms and run with complementary experiences in education, mentoring, leadership, administration and research. The proposed program is expected to provide full year research exposure to a minimum of 125 motivated students, who will receive hands-on exposure to biomedical research, acquire technical and conceptual skills through advanced imaging camps and multi-omics workshops, and obtain professional guidance on career development. Strong institutional commitment is demonstrated by already committed funds that jump started a pilot program funding 60 students for 3 semesters of research, and continued institutional matching funds provided by both participating units. If successful, this program will allow the rutgers research and education network in newark to fully harness its potential as an engine for improving undergraduate access to research and future success in the biomedical ecosystem.