Rutgers Health

10/15/2026

For people living with sickle cell disease, pain can be a daily reality. A Rutgers-led study uncovered unexpected differences in blood proteins that may help explain why pain experiences vary from person to person, opening new avenues for future research and treatment.

Rutgers-led research of 16 adults suggests cellular energy processes may help explain differences in sickle cell pain.

10/13/2026

As federal regulators move to ban several lab-modified opioid compounds derived from kratom—a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia whose leaves are used for things like managing pain, energy, mood or opioid withdrawal symptoms—Rutgers Health researcher Jenny Wilkerson says the decision could have unintended consequences for scientists.

The challenge: protecting public health while ensuring research can continue to inform future treatments.

“There are legitimate reasons to regulate highly potent, concentrated and chemically modified opioid compounds, but regulatory decisions have consequences for science,” Wilkerson says.

“This action can make it substantially more difficult to obtain, store, administer and study compounds in controlled laboratory settings. Scientists are just beginning to figure out how kratom and its active chemical ingredients might be used as medicine, as well as what negative side effects they could cause.”

Learn more: go.rutgers.edu/o411wa5l

10/10/2026

Future physicians at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School are learning that great medicine starts with community.

Through more than 50 service-learning projects across Newark, students are helping address health care gaps while gaining hands-on experience in health equity, patient advocacy and community-centered care. ❤️🏥

10/09/2026

The Rutgers Brain Health Institute has recruited internationally recognized autism researcher Sara Jane Webb as the next director of the Rutgers Center for Autism Research, Education and Services (RUCARES).

A pioneer in autism biomarkers and early diagnosis research, Webb will help expand interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen research-informed clinical care and advance resources for autistic individuals and families across New Jersey.

Learn more: go.rutgers.edu/dutk0rfa

10/01/2026

ICYMI: Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health recently launched the Rutgers/RWJBarnabas Health Innovation Hub, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), creating new opportunities for students, researchers, clinicians and technology experts to collaborate on real-world health care challenges.

By combining Rutgers' academic and research abilities, RWJBarnabas Health's clinical expertise and patient reach, and AWS cloud and AI technologies, the hub will advance medical education, accelerate clinical innovation, and help shape the future of patient care in NJ.

Learn more: go.rutgers.edu/pg7bkp06

09/30/2026

Researchers are learning more about the powerful role gut bacteria can play in human health, and now a Rutgers Cancer Institute scientist is exploring whether the microbiome may also influence breast cancer risk.

Backed by a $3.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, Tengteng Wang will study stool samples from thousands of healthy women to identify microbial features that could help predict cancer development and inform future prevention strategies.

“Genetic risk cannot be changed. The microbiome can," Wang says. “If we can find and understand the specific microbiota or microbial metabolites that matter, we have a target for prevention."

Researchers will use stool samples collected from more than 18,000 healthy women years before a breast cancer diagnosis to search for new clues to prevention.

09/22/2026

Preparing the next generation of nurses starts with excellence in education.

The Rutgers School of Nursing has been ranked #27 among undergraduate nursing programs nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, placing it in the top 4% of programs in the country.

The school’s bachelor’s degree program also remains #1 in NJ.

Rutgers School of Nursing ranks No. 27 among 671 undergraduate nursing programs nationwide in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings, placing it among the top 4% in the country. This historic achievement represents the school’s highest-ever ranking since U.S. News launched ...

09/21/2026

A stronger future starts with working together.

In a new op-ed, the deans of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School share why their planned merger is about more than growth.

With accreditation expected in 2027, the future Rutgers School of Medicine will build on the unique strengths of each institution to advance medical research and innovation, educate future physicians, and expand access to community-based health care in Newark, New Brunswick, and across New Jersey.

A 1970 law once pitted New Jersey's two Rutgers medical schools against each other. Now their leaders say collaboration is the only path forward

09/18/2026

A white coat is more than a uniform. It represents the beginning of a physician's journey and a commitment to caring for patients and communities.

Congratulations to Rutgers New Jersey Medical School's newest class as they take this important step toward a future in medicine. 🎉🥼🩺❤️

09/16/2026

Today, we announced the launch of the Rutgers University, RWJBarnabas Health, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Innovation Hub. It is one of the nation's first innovation hubs connecting a medical school, health system, and cloud + AI technology.

Students will prototype real solutions for real patients across New Jersey. When bold institutions come together like this, that's when transformation happens. 🎓🏥☁️

When institutions come together like this, shoulder to shoulder, across disciplines, that's when we see the kind of transformation that changes lives.