Now entering its third century, Jefferson is building on a 200 year-legacy of scholarship, discovery and application — helping define what research looks like and what it can accomplish in the decades ahead.
This edition of Research at Thomas Jefferson University offers a snapshot of the rich, multifaceted work being done across Thomas Jefferson University’s 10 colleges and Jefferson Health’s 32 hospital campuses, and in partnership with dozens of community-based organizations. But I want to point out something that’s not always evident in these compelling and intriguing articles: The catalytic role that external funding plays in driving research and innovation at Jefferson — especially in enabling us to pursue the kind of intellectually courageous studies that lead to paradigm-shifting discoveries and breakthrough applications.
Hundreds of our researchers receive grants from traditional funders such as federal and state agencies ranging from the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Moonshot initiative to Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing PA Innovation Program. As important, though, are the philanthropic contributions we receive from individual donors, foundations, and corporations. These contributions — whether large or small — often have outsized impact. Why? Because they can empower our most creative and skilled investigators to develop innovative research methods and test counter-intuitive solutions to major problems.
Keep that in mind when, for example, you read about the work of neuroscientist Mijail Serruya, MD, PhD, and his team: Not only have they developed wearable and implantable devices for people who have lost arm or leg function, they’re also enabling patients to be true partners in the research design and evaluation process. And remember that as you learn about the efforts of radiation oncologist Nicole Simone, MD, to demonstrate that calorie restriction can help short-circuit cancer cells and enhance the tumor-killing ability of existing treatments. Her dogged pursuit of that previously unconventional and controversial idea is yielding growing evidence that calorie restriction can indeed help destroy solid tumors.
In those cases, modest gifts and grants from individual donors and foundations provided essential support for the researchers’ early stage work. Dr. Serruya credits a grant from the I AM the Vine Foundation and Dr. Simone credits a gift from philanthropist Jane Karatzas for enabling their research teams to develop initial results and demonstrate the “proof-of-concept” that subsequently led to major grants and concrete impact for patients.
While biomedicine and population health are central pillars of Jefferson’s research enterprise, we are advancing discovery and application across the sciences, social sciences, arts and design, humanities and business. The article Making Waste Productive offers a multifaceted view of how our researchers are collaborating across disciplines — from chemistry and plant biology to business, textile engineering and textile design — to help global society achieve sustainable economic development. And our Research Briefs describe interior designer Lisa Phillips’ studies of how people’s emotions and perceptions are affected by the nature of the materials comprising the spaces where we live, work, and receive care. In those cases, too, donors, foundations, and corporations have provided resources to advance R&D in ways that directly benefit individuals, communities and businesses.
So, as you marvel at the people, ideas and achievements highlighted in this magazine, keep in mind the tremendous resources needed to fuel cutting-edge research and scholarship. And, please, consider how you could help advance the exciting work taking place throughout the Jefferson research enterprise.