The Importance of Research Funding

Higher Ed research funding plays a key role in New Jersey’s standing as an innovative state, bolstering its economic outlook and sparking scientific breakthroughs.

By Jim Pytell, Managing Editor On Jun 4, 2025

Higher education research funding is critically important in New Jersey, serving as a cornerstone for economic development, workforce innovation, and public policy advancement. Federal funding, in particular, serves as the primary driver of research capacity at many of the state’s universities via competitive federal research grants and contracts awarded by agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Department of Defense (DoD). 

The NIH is the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research, with an annual budget of $47 billion paying for more than 60,000 grants. It alone invested more than $405 million in 53 New Jersey-based projects in 2024, according to its grants database.

“Federal research funding has significantly bolstered our academic reputation, especially in engineering and biomedical sciences,” says Rowan University Provost Tony Lowman. “Our faculty’s ability to attract federal funding has allowed us to expand our research facilities, support innovative projects and attract fast-rising research faculty and students. In 2018, we earned Carnegie R2 research status (indicating high research activity) and we’re on track with being recognized as R1, among the most research-active universities in the nation, in the next review period.”

Rowan University is the third fastest-growing public research institution in the nation, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, with biomedical and health sciences accounting for more than half of its annual research expenditures. Rowan was awarded more than $8 million in NIH funding in FY 2024, according to the NIH database. 

Lowman says that the development of advanced manufacturing, new materials, cyber security, translational biomedical engineering, and AI have also attracted federal investment in the last several years, particularly from the DoD.

Two specific examples of work at Rowan receiving federal support include Bob Nagele’s team at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, which received significant support from the National Institute on Aging (part of the NIH) for the development of a blood test that can detect biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease 10 years before symptoms develop. 

Additionally, biomedical engineer Mohammad Abedin-Nasab leads a research team at Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering that’s developing the world’s first robotic-surgical system to repair long bone fractures. His work has also received funding from the National Science Foundation and the NIH.

Separately, Atam P. Dhawan, senior vice provost for research and executive director of the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s (NJIT’s) Center for Translational Research tells New Jersey Business Magazine that federal research funding support has also been instrumental in driving a significant increase in NJIT’s overall research productivity. This has fostered the development of cutting-edge research infrastructure, and enabled notable breakthroughs across a range of scientific and engineering disciplines. The university receives more than $100 million annually in funding from both governmental agencies and the private sector.

NJIT, which itself boasts an R1 Carnegie Classification, has developed basic and applied research and innovation translation programs in the areas of advanced materials, additive manufacturing, sustainability, water-energy nexus, biomedical engineering and life sciences, AI, machine learning and data science. 

“[One specific example of federally supported work at NJIT] is the development of a critical mass and leadership in PFAS (forever chemicals) detection and remediation technologies to address a critical growing problem of PFAS contaminants in weather, soil and infrastructure,” says Dhawan. “NJIT is leading this effort in New Jersey with industry, university, government and community partnerships funded by federal agencies and industry.”

Federal Funding Cuts and the Future

Of course, there is certainly concern in the higher education community about the Trump administration’s desire to pursue policies aimed at reducing federal funding for research at colleges and universities. For instance, according to analysis from STAT, the NIH has scaled back its awards of new grants by at least $2.3 billion since the beginning of the year.

“In the next decade, federal research funding is likely to become more strategically focused and outcome-driven, shaped by evolving political agendas, economic constraints, and global challenges,” explains Dhawan. “Political shifts may influence the direction and distribution of funds, emphasizing not just innovation, but calls for greater transparency, accountability and public-private collaboration. Ultimately, while the funding landscape may become more competitive, its role as a catalyst for innovation, policy development and national resilience will remain crucial.”

Dhawan says that NJIT has experienced some federal funding cuts, but to date, faculty-focused projects have been mostly spared, and the cuts have been on the fringes of the university’s research portfolio.

“Federal priorities and economic landscapes shift all the time,” adds Lowman. “Our researchers will have to adjust to new priorities. We’re asking our faculty to continue submitting proposals and grant activities according to their research interests. Rowan is fortunate in that most of our research is focused on applied research with everyday implications. There will always be research that is not funded and new research funding that becomes available. Our faculty will adjust as they have in the past,” Lowman concludes. 

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