In recognizing New Jersey’s rich cultural diversity, expansive geography and multifaceted industries, economies and communities, the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research (IFH) at Rutgers University is working to assemble a New Jersey Population Cohort Study as a platform for better understanding health and well-being throughout the Garden State. Its goal is to deliver a unique data resource that leads to deeper understanding of population health and well-being, and provides meaningful insights on the impact of public and private health improvement innovations. This knowledge can then be applied to general lessons for health improvement nationally, as well as globally.
New Jersey not only offers a diverse population but also a history of bold health policy reforms and biomedical innovation that further enhances its value of building state-wide population health research capacity. Lauded the first-of-its-kind, the NJ Cohort Study is anticipated to be an ongoing, representative, and longitudinal panel for epidemiologic studies, social scientific research, and biomedical investigation.
On April 9, IFH will host Rutgers Catalyst: New Jersey Population Cohort Study bringing together population health leaders and Rutgers researchers from across the state, New Jersey government, and national experts in a discussion focused on the study’s sustainability and success; highlighted by a keynote address by Linda Waite, PhD, Lucy Flower Professor in Urban Sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology, University of Chicago. The daylong event will feature several panel discussions designed to outline a vision for the study and identify pathways to implementation. WRI’s Faculty Director Sarah Allred holds a prestigious seat on the study’s steering committee and will moderate a panel on study design. Following the event, Allred and others will continue the conversation to develop a detailed plan for development and implementation of the cohort.