By: Michael Bautista, Community Journalist
GLOUCESTER COUNTY — Leaders from Rowan University’s Virtua Health and community partners gathered on Friday, March 20, to celebrate the opening of the Virtua College Research Center, a 20,000 square foot laboratory facility designed to accelerate medical discovery while bringing research closer to the patients it aims to serve.
The new center represents a significant investment in South Jersey’s future, both as a hub for scientific advancement and as a growing force in the life sciences sector. Designed to house multidisciplinary teams, the facility brings together experts in fields such as orthopedics, neuromuscular disease, transplant medicine, and regenerative therapies, all working under one roof with a shared goal to translate research into real-world care.
Rather than separating academic research from clinical practice, the center is built to bridge that divide, allowing discoveries made in laboratories to move more efficiently into hospitals and treatment settings across the region.
Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand emphasized the long-term impact the center could have not just on healthcare, but on economic development throughout South Jersey.
“I’m so delighted that the young minds will come in here and create amazing startups,” Houshmand said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This place will become a glorious Southern Jersey that everyone will be jealous of.”
Overall, the vision reflects Rowan’s ongoing effort to expand. The research center is part of a larger transformation of the university’s West Campus, where academic, medical, and corporate partnerships are increasingly intersecting.
Central to that transformation is Rowan’s partnership with Virtua Health, which was formalized in 2001 through the creation of the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences. The collaboration integrates education with patient care and developmental research, positioning the institutions as key players in addressing the local and national healthcare challenges.
For Dianne Langford, dean of the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences, the new center represents an opportunity to imagine what medical discovery can look like when those elements are fully aligned.
“I want you to envision the magazine discovery that will be made here that will have a positive impact on your life and the lives of your loved ones and possibly your pets,” said Langford.
His remarks underscore the wide-reaching implications of the research expected to take place inside the facility. From improving surgical techniques to advancing treatments for chronic and complex diseases, the center is designed to support work that directly affects patients and communities.
In addition to advancing research, the facility is expected to serve as a launchpad for innovation and entrepreneurship. By bringing together scientists, clinicians, and students, leaders hope to foster an environment where new ideas can evolve into viable technologies, treatments, and even startup companies.
That focus on innovation is closely tied to workforce development. As demand grows for highly skilled professionals in healthcare and biomedical fields, the center provides students with opportunities to engage in hands-on research and collaborative projects that prepare them for careers in an increasingly complex industry.
Richard T. Jermyn, vice chancellor of the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences, said the center shows what can happen when institutions share a common vision.
“When mission-aligned systems come together around excellence in education, patient care, and research, this tower stands as a symbol of what’s possible. The sky is the limit,” said Jermyn.
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