New biomedical teaching and research facility coming to Camden

CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- The Joint Health Science Center will be a state of the art biomedical teaching and research facility located at MLK Boulevard and Broadway in Camden.

One of a kind in New Jersey, it will house students and faculty from Rutgers, Rowan, two of their medical schools and Camden Co. College in one site to train the next generation of healthcare professionals.

"We want to leverage all the healthcare institutions that are in Camden, develop a pipeline for research and develop a pipe line for workforce training," said Kris Kolluri, of the Joint Board of Governors.

"There'll be a lot of research here, a collaborative effort between research institutions," said Louis Cappelli, (D-Camden Co.) Freeholder Dir. "It's great for science, it's great for students."

A ceremonial ground breaking for the $70 million dollar science center drew a number of dignitaries excited about the state-funded project.

"What we're going to have with this building is a focal point for professors at both universities supported by Camden County to do some amazing things," said Jack Collins, of the Joint Board of Governors.

This project is part of the overall plan to take medicine and education and turn them into an economic engine for Camden and the region.

It's predicted in the next 10 years 24,000 healthcare related jobs will be created in this region.

"The goal is to make sure that residents are workforce ready, to work at many of these jobs that are being created," said Mayor Dana Redd (D-Camden).

"This is the Meds and Eds corridor," said Rutgers University President Robert Barchi. "It's not something that's going to be. It is. It's happening right now."

"Create some centers of excellence by putting the critical masses of people that we have amongst the two institutions," said Rowan University President Ali Houshmand. "We can do some amazing research here."

Governor Christie said this is the latest effort in his mission to turn Camden around.

"To invest in real projects that would bring real jobs and hope again to the city," said Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)

The Joint Health Sciences Center is expected to open in the spring of 2019.

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