Hackensack Meridian Health has received 27 grants from the New Jersey Health Foundation (NJHF). The awards total nearly $1.1 million and will be used for vital research and community health projects.
How the Grants Will Be Used
The grants will support work across the state’s largest and most comprehensive health care network, benefiting basic and clinical research at the Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute, the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, and other sites across the Garden State.
“The level of funding from the New Jersey Health Foundation represents a vital resource for the innovative and important research conducted across our network,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “These grants represent more than just crucial support for our researchers; they serve as an investment towards the future of health care and patient care.”
The research topics supported by the grants include improving cognitive wellness among senior citizens, using acupuncture to manage symptoms in cancer patients, harnessing light to treat hematological malignancies, and other critical health-related topics.
Increased Grant Funding
Hackensack Meridian Health and the Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute have now been awarded approximately $3.7 million in grants from the NJHF dating back to 2023. The 27 grants awarded this year mark a slight increase from 25 grants awarded last year.
“Our partnership with the New Jersey Health Foundation is something we value very highly,” said Ihor Sawczuk, M.D., FACS. Dr. Sawczuk also serves as president of Academics, Research and Innovation for Hackensack Meridian Health and is the founding chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute. “Thanks to this funding, our researchers are better positioned to make critical breakthroughs.”
‘Be The Difference’ Campaign
These grants bring Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation one step closer to its $1 billion fundraising goal as part of its “Be The Difference” campaign, the largest fundraising campaign ever undertaken by a health care network in New Jersey.
“We are deeply thankful to the New Jersey Health Foundation for continuing to recognize and invest in the vital research and community health projects that are of such consequence to the residents in communities all across New Jersey – and beyond,” said Joyce P. Hendricks, president and chief development officer of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation.
Launched in September 2024, “Be The Difference” is a transformational effort focusing on four key pillars: enhancing the delivery of patient care, accelerating groundbreaking research and discovery, expanding access to care for all, and revolutionizing medical education while supporting the nursing profession.
New Jersey Health Foundation’s Help
“We are proud to support Hackensack Meridian Health and its many innovative projects,” said Jim Golubieski, president & CEO of New Jersey Health Foundation. “Alongside our prior support, these projects reflect a continued commitment to long‑term impact and progress.”
Through this ambitious initiative, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation aims to reshape health care for patients, clinicians, and the diverse communities it serves, paving the way for a brighter, healthier future.
Based in Princeton, the New Jersey Health Foundation fosters a culture of innovation in the State by supporting research to cure diseases and address health-related needs. It also supports donor-specified research and educational programs by managing an endowment portfolio.
Grant Recipients
Jenny Bernard, DNP, MBA, MSN, APN, $35,000
JFK University Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center
“The Fourth Trimester Intervention and Blue Bracelet Study”
Tanchun Wang, Ph.D., $35,000
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
“Mind in Motion: A Community Initiative to Improve Cognitive Wellness in Seniors from Underserved Community”
Soemiwati Holland, M.D., MBA, $50,000.00
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Jersey Shore University Medical Center
“Variation in Thyroid Function at Different Stages of The Menstrual Cycle in Healthy Reproductive-age Women”
Aditi Mathur, M.D., $34,816
Hackensack University Medical Center
“Characterizing Sleep Disturbances in Interstitial Lung Disease Using Wearable Technology”
Muftiya Issa, $35,000
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
“Bridging Gaps in Cancer Care: Integrative Acupuncture for Symptom Management and Access Equity for Underserved Cancer Patients”
Johannes Zakrzewski, M.D., $50,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation
“Harnessing light for targeted therapy of hematological malignancies”
Miguel Gonzalez-Velez, M.D.
$50,000.00
Hackensack University Medical Center
“Utility of Dynamic Inflammatory Cytokine Panel in Phase I Oncology Trials”
Piero Dalerba, M.D., $50,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation
“Repurposing enfortumab-vedotin, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Nectin-4, for the treatment of human Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas (ACCs).”
Pallavi Doddakashi, M.D., $34,953
Hackensack University Medical Center
“HOPE: Harmonizing Opioid Planning and Education for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Patients Undergoing Curative Therapy”
Vidmantas Petraitis, M.D., $50,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
“Identification and characterization of a hit compound, A12, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa SOS response”
Prerna Trivedy, M.D., $35,000
Hackensack University Medical Center
“Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Bundled Safety Intervention for Caregivers of At-Risk Youth in the ED”
Sara Cuccurullo, M.D., $35,000
JFK University Medical Center
“Supporting Transition And Recovery After Stroke (STARS) program: Improving Risk Factor Management and Secondary Prevention in Stroke Survivors”
Rakesh Chhabra, M.D., $50,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center
“Comparing the Use of the Continuous Glucose Monitor Versus Intermittent Point-of-Care Glucose Testing for Monitoring Blood Glucose in Infants at Risk for Hypoglycemia”
Anthony Scholer, M.D., FACS, $35,000
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center
“A Cognition-Focused Perioperative Optimization Pathway to Reduce Postoperative Delirium in Frail Surgical Oncology Patients”
Biren Bhatt, M.D., $35,000
Hackensack University Medical Center
“Battlefield acupressure for acute pain management in the Emergency Department: Evaluating whether auricular acupressure can reduce opiate administration for painful conditions”
Jansy Sarathy, Ph.D., $50,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation
“Characterization of RecBCD as a novel drug target in Mycobacterium tuberculosis”
Amruta Bamanikar, M.D., $35,000
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
JFK University Medical Center
“Using Technology To Elevate Parental Discharge Preparedness In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit At Jersey Shore University Medical Center”
Megan Mitchell, Ph.D., $50,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation
“Identification of Placenta-Specific Extracellular Vesicle Biomarkers of Invasive Placentation Using Patient-Derived Organoid Models”
Janice Dibling, M.S., $35,000
JFK University Medical Center
“Comprehensive Wellness Program for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease and their Caregivers”
Angelica Del Vecchio, Ph.D., $33,857
Hackensack University Medical Center
“Optimizing Geriatric Surgical Outcomes and Quality of Life: The Role of Frailty and Perioperative Physical Activity”
Alvin Makohon-Moore, Ph.D., $35,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation
2026 HMH-CDI Summer Research Scholar Program
Elli Gourna Paleoudis, Ph.D., $35,000
Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute
“The Clinical Research Acceleration & Methods (CRAM) Track”
Isabella Kocienski, RN, $35,000
Ocean University Medical Center
“Beyond the Braden: Using Hospital Data to Predict Skin Problems Before They Start”
Binfeng Lu, Ph.D., $50,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation
“Study of Immune Resistance Mechanisms in Cytokine-Based Immunotherapy for Human Solid Cancers”
Benjamin Tycko, M.D., Ph.D., $50,000
Center for Discovery and Innovation
“Functional genomics to develop biomarkers for multiple sclerosis”
Karen Eigen, M.D., $35,000
Hackensack University Medical Center
“Maintaining Continuous Medicaid Coverage for Eligible Children in New Jersey”
Shelley Saber, M.D., $35,000
Hackensack University Medical Center
“Mom-entum: A Mobile Application-Based Intervention to Improve Exercise in Pregnancy and Beyond”
To support the work being done at the Center for Discovery and Innovation, or to learn more, visit GiveHMH.org/CDI.
About Hackensack Meridian Health
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization and New Jersey’s largest, most comprehensive, and integrated health network. Our network includes 18 hospitals, more than 500 patient care locations, and a complete range of services from innovative research and life-enhancing care to lifesaving air medical transportation.
Hackensack University Medical Center is the first-ever New Jersey hospital to be ranked a Top 20 hospital in the nation. It is also ranked #1 in New Jersey and the New York metro area by U.S. News & World Report, 2025-26. Hackensack Meridian Health is proud to be home to New Jersey’s #1 children’s hospital and the state’s only nationally-ranked cancer center, the John Theurer Cancer Center. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.