November 22, 2024, Nutley, NJ – A Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) researcher was honored with the Research & Development Council of New Jersey’s inaugural Emerging Tech Award - the first such distinction for a scientist from Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network.

Olivier Loudig, Ph.D., an associate member of the CDI, received the inaugural Emerging Tech Award for his innovative efforts on biomarker discovery for early detection of metastasizing breast cancer and lung cancer, at the 45th annual Edison Patent Awards Ceremony and Reception in November.

Dr. Loudig’s award was announced on the list of winners by the Research & Development Council of New Jersey (R&D Council) on July 24. For the 2024 honorees, the R&D Council included 14 patents created by 66 inventors and five individual award winners.

‘This is a major recognition for Dr. Loudig’s innovative, exciting work,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, the chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. “It is also a fantastic milestone for our health network, which continues to develop bold new ideas to push the envelope for 21st-century health care.”

“Olivier Loudig’s work is a great example of the CDI’s science accelerating discoveries into innovations to change lives as soon as possible,” added Ihor Sawczuk, M.D., FACS, Hackensack Meridian Health’s president of Academics, Research and Innovation, founding chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute, and associate dean of Clinical Integration and professor and chair emeritus of Urology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Dr. Loudig has developed research programs for the discovery of cancer biomarkers, with projects focused on breast, lung, prostate, and bladder cancers. Working with his senior research associate, Megan I. Mitchell, Ph.D., they have designed technologies and received patents for the isolation of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs), and particularly contained in exhaled breath condensates, the analysis of which may facilitate early and non-invasive detection of lung diseases and cancers. Dr. Loudig joined Hackensack University Medical Center in 2017, and was one of the five founding laboratories to join the CDI at its inception in 2019.

“Refining the threshold of detection” through minute isolation of unique and disease-specific biomarkers is how Dr. Loudig has described his work. Recent peer-reviewed publications o his laboratory’s work has demonstrated the potential of an exhaled-breath test for non-invasive detection of human lung cancer.

Dr. Loudig’s honor, the Emerging Tech Award, is presented to a New Jersey individual, team or organization whose early stage inventions or innovations have the potential to make a significant impact on the marketplace. Individual award winners alongside Dr. Loudig include: Computer science pioneer Brian Kernighan, Ph.D., New Brunswick Development Corporation President Christopher Paldino, Rowan University Provost Anthony Lowman, Ph.D., and New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology Executive Director Judith Sheft.

At the November 21 event, 2024 Edison Patent Award winners were also honored: BASF Environmental Catalyst ad Metal Solutions, Bristol Myers Squibb, Colgate-Palmolive Company, ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company, Merck & Co., Nokia Bell Labs, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Qualcomm Incorporated, Rowan University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Siemens Technology, and the U.S. Army. The recognized patents range from a surgical robot designed for femur fractures to technology that improves mobile communications.

Individual award winners were vetted and selected by the Council’s Board. Edison Patent Award winners were selected by a team of R&D Council researchers who evaluated patents for the significance of the problem, utility/socio-economic value, novelty, and commercial impact. All winning patents must have at least part of the technical and/or scientific work completed in New Jersey.

“This year’s theme of ‘Jersey Innovates, The World Takes,’ a nod to the iconic Lower Trenton Bridge slogan , celebrates New Jersey’s research community’s global impact. From the inventions of the lightbulb to transistors to antibiotics, New Jersey has been – and continues to be – in the forefront of life-altering innovations,” said Colleen Ruegger, RPh, Ph.D., Chair of the R&D Council Board of Directors and Executive Director, Technical Research & Development at Novartis. “We are thrilled to celebrate these 14 patents, 66 inventors, and five innovation leaders as they continue to make a transformative impact on the world from right here in New Jersey.”

“We are thrilled that the discovery and innovation of Olivier Loudig continues to earn support, and accolades, from the scientific community,” said David Perlin, Ph.D., the chief scientific officer and executive vice president of the CDI.

The 45th annual Edison Patent Awards Ceremony and Reception took place on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at Bell Works in Holmdel, N.J.

* Dr. Loudig and Hackensack Meridian Health have a financial interest in the company EV Diagnostics.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF NEW JERSEY

As the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, we collaborate among industry, academia, and government to grow and strengthen STEM in education, innovation, and the economy. The R&D Council is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose membership includes representatives from academia, government, and industry, including several Fortune 500 companies. More information can be found at the R&D Council’s website: www.rdnj.org.

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey.

The network’s notable distinctions include having the only #1 ranked adult and children's hospitals in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2024-25. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in eight specialties. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION

The Center for Discovery and Innovation, a member of Hackensack Meridian Health, translates current innovations in science to improve clinical outcomes for patients. More than 29 laboratories, 185 professional researchers and physician-scientists at the CDI have set their sights on cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and other acute and chronic diseases. Clinical need drives the scientific insights, and their application, for these researchers, as shown in the real-time response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in new diagnostics, therapies, and surveillance abilities. The CDI leverages a new wave of scientific advances involving genetics, cell engineering of the human immune system, and imaging to better diagnose, treat and prevent disease through personalized medicine approaches. For additional information, please visit www.hmh-cdi.org.

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (HMHRI): 

HMHRI leads and organizes a connected ecosystem bringing together clinicians, scientists, and educators to respond to the health problems of our time, in real-time. HMHRI is dedicated to accelerating discovery, innovation, and translation of scientific breakthroughs that address unmet clinical needs.