180+ networks across 21 NJ counties
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE OVERVIEW
NJACTS draws leading academic, industry and community groups together to understand and address the health needs of New Jersey. Central to this is engagement with our community to ensure that our efforts respond to their priorities. Our goal is to conduct research with the New Jersey community, in the community and for the community, and yet, have impact beyond our state’s boundaries.
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Empowering Community-Based Research
Through Cultural and Linguistic Collaboration
- Navigating interpreter-mediated encounters
- Effective translation for research
- Understanding cultural nuances in literacy, trust, and belonging
Through collaboration across disciplines and leveraging expertise within and beyond Rutgers, CrEER ensures that research is inclusive, culturally relevant, and impactful both locally and globally.
👉 Discover how CrEER is shaping the future of community-based research here.
Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ATCS) Membership for Community Members
Did you know that community members are eligible to become members of ACTS through their affiliation with NJ ACTS?
Community members are able to access ACTS’ member benefits, including:
- Discounted registration to the annual Translational Science meeting
- Opportunities to participate in Special Interest Groups and Committees
- Access to the community platform website and more!
Resource for Investigators – CTSA Compendium of D&I Catalogs
Dissemination and implementation (D&I) research focuses on translating evidence-based interventions into real-world settings to improve health outcomes in the broader community.
An open-source CTSA Compendium of D&I Catalogs has been developed by the Clinical & Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program’s “Advancing Dissemination and Implementation Sciences in CTSAs” working group to support investigators at any stage of their D&I skill-building journey. It provides a curated list of resource catalogs relevant to the conduct of D&I science. The materials include frameworks/theories/models, methods/measures, funding resources, practice resources, training, and health equity resources. Click here to learn more.
CIRTification – A New Alternative to CITI for Community Partners
The rollout of CIRTification at Rutgers has begun. The CIRTification program provides research ethics training alternative for individuals in community organizations, with limited understanding of conducting human research and protecting potential research participants. This option provides training that focuses on establishing the skills in community partners to conduct human subject research effectively and safely in their communities.
To learn more about the program at Rutgers, please visit this link CIRTification.
NJ ACTS COMMUNITY SCIENTIST PROGRAM
This program is designed to provide researchers with rapid feedback from expert community members to ensure their research projects are culturally appropriate and relevant to the community.
PARTICIPATE IN OUR NEXT COHORT!
For more information, please contact njactscommunity@rwjms.rutgers.edu
NJ HEROES TOO
Through the ongoing New Jersey Healthcare Essential Worker Outreach and Education Study – Testing Overlooked Occupations (NJ HEROES TOO), we have gained a wealth of data on COVID-19’s effects, gleaned valuable learnings on attitudes toward testing and vaccines, and improved COVID-19 awareness in underserved communities.

Community Blog

Rutgers University research continues to put New Jersey on the map.
Research happening at Rutgers University is making impacts across the globe, from medical advancements to everyday innovations. As a Top 100 World Research University, Rutgers is home to over 300 research centers and institutes. On an annual basis, the university...

Are synthetic food dyes unsafe? Experts reveal what the research really shows.
The appeal of a brightly colored candy, the vibrant hue of your mouthwash, the pigment of your sports drinks — they’re all thanks to food dyes. These colorful additives don’t add any nutritional value to the foods, medications and drinks they’re in, but they’ve long...
How Much Should Doctors Dwell On Risks?
In 2003 Jonathan Gluck was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, essentially a bone marrow cancer. To confirm the diagnosis, his doctor ordered a full-body PET scan, considered one of the best tests for early detection of the disease. The day of the appointment, the...

NJACTS Community Engagement Core COVID-19 Resources
The situation around the current spread of COVID-19 is changing rapidly. We have compiled resource links for the general community highlighting local resources across New Jersey, ways to get involved, and mental and physical wellness. Visit our COVID-19 page for...

Lawsuits Could Choke Off the Candy‑Flavored Vape Pipeline.
Most convenience stores feature rows of colorful vapes promising tastes of cotton candy or iced mango, but none of them should be there. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized 34 electronic cigarette products. Four menthol vapes are the only flavored...

Knowing Your Alzheimer’s Risk May Ease Anxiety but Reduce Motivation for Healthy Habits.
Study involving Rutgers researcher adds insight into how individuals emotionally respond to learning about their amyloid status. Learning about one’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease may not lead to emotional distress, but motivation to maintain healthy lifestyle changes...