CHERRY HILL, N.J. – Today, Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced $657,983 in grant awards to Rowan University from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Institute of Mental Health and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to support mental health research and programming and improve access to substance abuse treatment.

“Addressing the opioid epidemic and our country’s ongoing mental health crisis is one of my top priorities in Congress,” Rep. Norcross said. “I’m proud to announce this funding that will advance important research happening right here in South Jersey and improve access to overdose treatment in our community. Rowan University continues to be a leader in medical research, and these programs will make a difference in the lives of people in South Jersey and nationwide.”

“Rowan University is deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of our surrounding community and our researchers demonstrate that every day,” said Dr. Mei Wei, Vice President for Research at Rowan University. “These grants are just two examples of that dedication. Thanks to this federal funding, the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine will partner with its peers in Philadelphia and West Virginia to increase access to life-saving treatment in the five counties with the highest overdose rates in the nation. Further, with support from the National Institute of Mental Health, interdisciplinary research in our College of Science & Mathematics will help us better understand how exercise protects the brain from the negative effects of chronic stress. This is exciting work and we’re grateful to Congressman Norcross for his continued support.”

Rowan University will receive:

• $457,983 Academic Research Enhancement Grant for research on resiliency to chronic stress.
• $200,000 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Grant for a community health project to expand access to overdose treatment.

HHS is a federal agency created to provide effective health and human services and foster advances in medicine, public health and social services. The National Institute of Mental Health, an office of HHS, is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. The Center for Substance Abuse provides national leadership on best practices for community-based substance use disorder treatment programs and services.