Research Institute Pilot Project Funding Program Realizes Excellent Early Returns For Investigators

What You Need To Know

• The Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute, in collaboration with the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation and the School of Medicine, provided seed funds for 11 research pilot project awards totaling greater than $200,000, in 2020 and 2021.

• The grants were designed to focus on the generation of data for use in pursuing greater research initiatives – to jump-start projects with big potential. Focal One is an advanced robotic high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system that allows Hackensack University urologists to precisely target and destroy diseased prostate tissue using sound waves — minimizing the risk of side effects, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction often associated with surgery, to remove the prostate and radiation therapy.

In close alignment with the research mission of the network’s care transformation services initiative and the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, this program provided one-time financial support for Principal Investigators to help generate the preliminary results/data necessary to prepare competitive applications for federal and other external national and international competitive research awards. A review of the progress made by funding recipients has revealed exciting results.