First lady, Rutgers and Ramapo working on collaboration with SickKids Centre in Toronto

New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, Rutgers University Chief Operating Officer Antonio Calcado and Ramapo College of New Jersey President Cindy Jebb visited the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, a step forward in establishing a collaboration between the universities and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

The group, part of the state’s four-day economic mission to Canada sponsored by Choose New Jersey, discussed ongoing government efforts to improve and increase access to pediatric health care and training the next generation of pediatric experts.

New Jersey-based researchers are working on several projects with the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health at the hospital, including:

• A collaborative study with Rutgers Cancer Institute and the University of Toronto to improve chemotherapy-induced nausea control
• Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s research project, funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, to examine the impact of placental abruption and maternal and newborn long-term cardio and cerebrovascular events 
• Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s study about how changes in a mouse’s microbiome affect brain development and behavior
• Two research projects with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School focusing on childhood arthritis and rheumatology
• A study with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School about brain development and schizophrenia

Murphy said the state is all-in on the initiative.

“I am deeply impressed with the transformative work underway at SickKids to improve the lives of so many mothers and babies in North America,” she said. “As first lady of New Jersey, one of my biggest priorities has been combating our state’s maternal and infant health crisis, with the overall goal of making our state the safest, most equitable place in the United States to deliver and raise a baby.

“As home to some of the most highly educated and talented health care workers on the planet, Canada and New Jersey are highly capable of reaching this overall goal together and beyond our two regions by supporting and expanding initiatives that lead to a healthier future for mothers and babies.”

Calcado said Rutgers is eager to do all it can, too.

“Our visit to SickKids highlights the importance of collaborative research in advancing maternal and children’s health,” he said. “The innovative research being conducted at Rutgers and SickKids is paving the way for new discoveries and improved health care outcomes for families in New Jersey and beyond. We are proud to be part of an international effort to share knowledge and drive meaningful change in pediatric and maternal health.”

Ramapo’s Jebb said her school is eager to increase its partnerships.

“It is an honor to be part of collaborative efforts between New Jersey and Canada, working together to advance maternal and children’s health,” she said. “At Ramapo College, we believe in the power of collaboration and shared knowledge to address global health challenges. This visit to SickKids is a testament to our commitment to fostering innovation and improving health outcomes for families across borders.”

SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, led by world-renowned experts in maternal, newborn and child health, is dedicated to directly and indirectly improving the lives of children and their families in resource-poor environments through collaboration in groundbreaking research, sustainable capacity building through education and by informing policy through the active use of advocacy, knowledge synthesis and knowledge translation.

Dr. Ronald Cohn, its CEO, welcomed the partnership.

“We are thrilled to welcome first lady Tammy Murphy and our esteemed colleagues from Rutgers University to SickKids,” he said. “As Canada’s leading pediatric hospital, we share the commitment to improving child health and look forward to continuing to collaborate with pediatric experts in New Jersey and around the globe.”