Sweeney Speaks at Joint Health Science Center Opening

Trenton – Senate President Steve Sweeney spoke to those in attendance at the opening of Camden’s Joint Health Science Center today. The science center is part of Camden’s “Meds and Eds” corridor, which will provide a collaborative research and training space for Rowan University, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden County College and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

“This facility is going to be an excellent addition to Camden’s ‘Eds and Meds’ corridor,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “With an estimated $72 million impact on Camden and $122 million statewide, this facility is more than a training center, it is going to help propel South Jersey to the forefront of medical research and innovation. This is yet another example of how smart investments are helping Camden rise up to its potential.”

The $70 million, four-story building includes research laboratory space for Rowan University and Rutgers University-Camden, simulation rooms for medical students at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, instructional space and simulation labs for Camden County College, office space for the Board of Governors, a first-floor café, a rooftop terrace, and general-use multipurpose spaces.

“This center is going to allow students and faculty from four different institutions of higher education to collaborate on cutting edge research,” said Dana Redd, CEO, Rowan University Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors. “This will be beneficial to the entire region and the project would not have been possible without funding from the EDA and the Building Our Future Bond Act. I am incredibly grateful for Senator Sweeney’s tireless advocacy in the statehouse and all he does for the people of South Jersey.”

The JHSC is based on the MESH Economy Model, which co-locates faculty and students from different academic disciplines in order to share facilities and equipment. By bringing these various institutions together, resources are utilized with maximum efficiency to make this a definitive research footprint in South Jersey. Approximately two-thirds of the space will be dedicated to research, multi-purpose rooms and offices for biomedical research.