Opportunities Available Through BH PIP

BH PIP is a program open to eligible behavioral health facilities in New Jersey looking to implement/optimize healthcare technology to increase patient care support. Participation in this program involves completing specific milestones, with associated payment incentives upon successful achievement.

Why Should You Participate?

• Adoption of EHRs will allow for efficient capture, analysis, reporting and sharing of clinical and operational data 
• Connects “siloed” systems of care to enhance care coordination and quality 
• Ability to participate in the state’s Health Information Exchange, NJ Health Information Network (NJHIN) that facilitates the secure sharing of patient information across different healthcare settings 
• Ability to integrate the statewide database such as New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program (NJPMP) into the clinical workflows 
• Increase bandwidth and capacity for treatment 
• Opportunity to establish an integrated behavioral health delivery system, improving care quality and coordination across providers 
• Financial incentives to help offset the costs to implement or upgrade the IT infrastructure

NJII plays a crucial role to support this program between behavioral health facilities and the State of New Jersey:

• Responsible for recruitment and verifying the eligibility of behavioral health (BH) facilities to participate in the program.
• Serving as a liaison between BH facilities and the State.
• Educating on all program milestones, deliverables, and deadlines related to the program.
• Assistance in meeting all requirements to complete milestones.
• Assistance in collecting the required support documents for attestations.
• Assistance in the submission of attestations to the New Jersey Medicaid Management Information System (NJMMIS) portal.
• Ensuring the disbursement of the incentive payments to the BH facilities.

The future of behavioral healthcare is digital. Don’t let your facility miss out on the opportunity to embrace cutting-edge technology and improve patient care. By participating in BH PIP, you can secure valuable financial incentives, streamline operations and enhance patient care outcomes.

Ready to take the next step? Contact NJII today to learn more and start your journey towards a more efficient and effective healthcare delivery system. Participation is limited and first come-first serve basis, so act now!

Contact Information:

Website: Behavioral Health Promoting Interoperability (BH-PIP) – NJII

https://www.njmmis.com

Email: BHPIP@njii.com

The post How NJII Can Help Mental Health Agencies Participate in the Behavioral Health Promoting Interoperability Program appeared first on NJII.

By breaking down information barriers, interoperability allows healthcare providers to access a patient’s complete health data, no matter where they got their care. This full view helps doctors and other providers work together more effectively. Plus, it gives patients the power to take charge of their own health journey.

Good communication is key to effective healthcare. Interoperability helps improve conversations between patients and providers by ensuring that important health information is easy to access. When healthcare professionals can see a patient’s entire medical history, they can explain diagnoses and treatment plans more clearly. This reduces confusion and helps patients feel more confident about their care.

The rise of health apps and patient portals is changing the way people engage with their health data. Patients can now track their progress, set health goals, and learn about their conditions at their own pace. This use of technology not only boosts health literacy but also gives patients a sense of control over their own health.

Managing transitions in care can be tough, especially for patients who might not fully understand health information. Interoperable systems make these transitions smoother by ensuring that important health info is shared seamlessly among all healthcare providers. This helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures patients get the support they need during crucial times.

As the healthcare industry continues to embrace interoperability, the opportunity to improve health literacy grows. The aim is for everyone involved—healthcare providers, tech developers, policymakers, and educators—to unite and create a health system that focuses on what patients really need.

Investing in interoperability not only boosts communication and education but also helps patients feel more confident as they navigate their healthcare journeys. By working together, we can build a healthier society where people have the knowledge they need to make smart health choices. Interoperability isn’t just a technical fix; it can truly make a difference in improving health literacy.

When patients have access to the information they need at the right time, we can enhance their experiences and improve health outcomes. As we look to the future, let’s harness the power of interoperability to empower individuals and create a population that truly understands health.

The post Healthcare Literacy appeared first on NJII.

I saw these dynamics firsthand during my years at Google, where I often partnered with startups as their first corporate customer. Even at a company with seemingly unlimited resources and smart people, the process of evaluating, piloting, and scaling innovation was complex. Some startups moved quickly into adoption and their innovations created an outsized impact. Others never made it through procurement cycles or risk management processes, despite having built amazing products. 

The lesson I carry forward to this day is simple: innovation accelerates when corporations and startups align early and build risk-sharing and incentives into their partnerships. 

That insight is what drives the work we’re doing today at the NJII Venture Studio: creating a repeatable model for corporations, entrepreneurs, and universities to co-develop companies that are strategically aligned, capital-efficient, and capable of hitting meaningful milestones within 18 months.

A New Approach to Corporate Innovation

Traditional corporate innovation often follows one of two paths:

1. Internal R&D, which is expensive, slow, and not always aligned with immediate business unit needs.
2. External acquisition, which can be costly once a startup has already scaled and proven itself in the market.

The NJII Venture Studio offers a third path: 

3. De-Risked Joint Venture Creation: early partnership with academia and entrepreneurs to co-create companies that are strategically aligned from day one. This approach allows corporations to test and validate new technologies in a controlled, capital-efficient way, while maintaining the option to fully acquire once market readiness is demonstrated.

But what exactly is a venture studio? A venture studio is a company that builds other companies. It plays a meaningful role in three aspects: Entrepreneur, Operator, and Investor. By combining those three roles, venture studios provide a structured and repeatable way to turn ideas into startups that solve real-world problems.

The NJII Venture Studio Model

The NJII Venture Studio provides a structured framework for creating new high-growth startups (“NewCos”) that solve real-world problems. Each NewCo includes what we consider to be the necessary ingredients for successful technology translation:

• Corporate Partner: Brings market insight, real commercialization needs, pathways to distribution, and potential funding or acquisition opportunities.
• Intellectual Property: University-originated or corporate-shelved IP that addresses a clear market problem and is positioned for productization.
• Executive Leadership: An operator/entrepreneur (often paired with technical founders or faculty) who drives execution across product, go-to-market, partnerships, and (where relevant) regulatory strategy.

Underpinning these ingredients is NJII’s studio platform, which provides the capital, operational infrastructure, and experienced leadership needed to launch and scale each NewCo. From incorporation to licensing, governance, and go-to-market support, our team ensures startups are built on a strong foundation. Together, this creates a repeatable, de-risked path from research to revenue while compressing time to market.

Why This Model Works for Corporations

The NJII Venture Studio gives corporate partners an innovation engine that is capital-efficient, strategically aligned, and de-risked from the outset:

• Shared risk: Instead of shouldering all the cost and uncertainty of internal R&D, partners share risk with NJII while retaining long-term ownership options.
• First-look at cutting-edge IP: Tap into a curated pipeline of university and independent innovations without funding all the discovery work.
• Cheaper path to acquisition: Because you’re involved from day one, acquiring a company you helped shape is significantly more cost-effective than buying it on the open market.

Why It Works for Entrepreneurs

The model also reshapes the journey for entrepreneurs:

• Immediate access to capital and resources without months of fundraising.
• Meaningful equity ownership from day one, earned through expertise and execution
• Strategic alignment with a major industry partner, increasing adoption and commercialization success.
• Operational support from NJII, freeing founders to focus on building.
• Clarity on exit pathways, reducing uncertainty and financial risk.

This is a de-risked entrepreneurship model where innovators can build faster, with stronger partners, and a higher probability of long-term success.

The Opportunity Ahead

Corporations are under pressure to deliver what’s next, researchers are generating world-class IP, and entrepreneurs are eager to build, but these groups struggle to connect in a way that’s efficient, aligned, and scalable.

That’s also where the opportunity lies. Internal R&D and acquisitions will always have their place, but they’re no longer, enough on their own. The real opportunity is to build a new model of collaboration that combines corporate strength, cutting-edge innovations, and entrepreneurial execution.

The NJII Venture Studio was designed to unlock exactly that opportunity: a way for corporates and innovators to move faster, share risk, and create companies that solve real-world problems.

Let’s Build What’s Next, Together

At NJII, we believe innovation doesn’t have to be risky or slow. By aligning corporations, researchers, and entrepreneurs from the very beginning, we’re proving there’s a faster, smarter way to bring ideas from the lab to the marketplace.
If your organization is looking to explore new technologies, expand into emerging markets, or simply reimagine how to innovate, we’d love to partner with you.

The post How the NJII Venture Studio is De-Risking Corporate Innovation appeared first on NJII.

Enhancing Body-Worn Camera Technology

A cornerstone of NJII’s collaboration with BCPO is the enhancement of body-worn camera (BWC) technology. As part of a statewide mandate, New Jersey has invested $58 million in BWC technology, with Bergen County receiving $5.1 million to equip over 2,500 officers. NJII is playing a pivotal role in this initiative by integrating AI into BWCs, which aims to manage and prioritize the vast amounts of video footage generated. This integration addresses significant challenges related to digital evidence management, ultimately improving safety and accountability in policing.

AI Integration and Training

Beyond technology enhancement, NJII is dedicated to empowering BCPO personnel through comprehensive training programs. These programs are designed to help officers identify strengths and potential problem areas in their operations, thereby refining overall policing strategies. By evaluating and improving BWC policies and capabilities, NJII ensures that the technology is effectively utilized to enhance law enforcement practices.

Research and Evaluation

The transformative potential of AI in law enforcement is further underscored by ongoing research, such as a study at Arizona State University assessing the impact of AI tools on officer behavior and community interactions. This research highlights the significant role AI can play in fostering positive community relations and improving officer conduct.

Building on a Legacy of Innovation

NJII’s collaboration with BCPO is not an isolated endeavor but rather a continuation of its successful projects, such as the initiative with the Newark Police Department. This partnership reflects NJII’s broader mission to drive technological advancements in critical sectors, ensuring that law enforcement agencies are equipped with the tools necessary for modern policing.

Conclusion

NJII’s initiatives in AI are paving the way for enhanced accountability and efficiency in law enforcement. The collaboration with BCPO exemplifies NJII’s commitment to driving innovation and transforming critical sectors through technology. As NJII continues to lead in AI innovation, it invites other organizations to explore how these cutting-edge solutions can benefit their operations.

For those interested in learning more about how NJII’s innovative solutions can transform your organization, we encourage you to connect with us. Together, we can harness the power of technology to create safer and more efficient communities. Visit [NJII’s website](https://www.njii.com) to explore our initiatives and discover how we can collaborate to drive meaningful change.

The post NJII’s Pioneering Collaboration with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office: A Leap Towards Technological Innovation in Law Enforcement appeared first on NJII.

Interoperability is vital to ensure that all members of a patient’s care team—especially elderly patients who often face multiple health challenges—have access to comprehensive and accurate health information. Such access significantly enhances clinical decision-making and improves patient outcomes, particularly in managing chronic conditions that are prevalent among older adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80% of older adults in low- and middle-income countries live with at least one chronic condition, and nearly 50% have two or more.

Utilizing standardized data formats and terminologies is essential for seamless data exchange. Additionally, establishing secure connections between EHR systems is critical. Implementing robust security measures to protect patient data during transmission is necessary to comply with regulations such as HIPAA. For older patients, who may be particularly vulnerable, ensuring that all systems are correctly configured for secure data exchange fosters trust between healthcare providers and patients.

Social drivers of health—such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood environment, and social support—play a significant role in determining health outcomes for older adults. Research by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation indicates that these social factors can account for up to 40% of health outcomes. By integrating data on these drivers into EHR systems, clinicians can develop a more comprehensive understanding of their patients’ health, enabling them to tailor interventions that address not only medical history but also the broader social context affecting their patients’ well-being.

By incorporating social drivers into EHRs, healthcare professionals can identify and address barriers to health, leading to more effective and personalized care for older adults. Collaboration with community organizations is essential in bridging the gap between healthcare and social services, addressing the social drivers that affect our patients. By fostering these partnerships, we can create a more holistic approach to healthcare that considers the full spectrum of factors impacting health and well-being.

For more information on EHR interoperability and strategies for effective management that support healthy aging and community well-being, please feel free to reach out to us at NJII.

The post Interoperability and EHR Management: Supporting Healthy Aging and Community Well-Being appeared first on NJII.

Here are two notable updates from MDSS portfolio companies shaping the future of precision oncology.

Serinus Bio Named on $23.6M ARPA-H Award for Predictive Cancer Modeling

Serinus Bio, an MDSS Cohort 2 company, has been selected as a key partner on a major ARPA-H award led by Trey Ideker, the company’s scientific cofounder and a professor at UC San Diego. The award provides up to $23.6 million in funding for a project titled Dynamic Digital Tumors for Precision Oncology.

The initiative aims to transform cancer care by building AI-based Drug Recommender Engines (DREs) that can simulate tumor evolution and predict therapy response. These tools are designed to support more accurate and personalized treatment decisions in oncology.

Serinus Bio is contributing its proprietary platform for mapping protein-protein interactions. Unlike traditional approaches that target and neutralize individual proteins, Serinus focuses on identifying combination therapies that disrupt critical protein-protein interaction networks specific to each disease. This approach has the potential to address therapeutic resistance and uncover new, more effective treatment strategies while minimizing negative side effects.

This award marks a major validation of Serinus’s platform and highlights the growing role of systems biology in the future of cancer therapeutics.

Nine Diagnostics and Orbits Oncology Team Up on Biomarker Discovery

Two other MDSS alumni, Nine Diagnostics (Cohort 3) and Orbits Oncology (Cohort 2), have announced a collaboration that brings together their respective platforms to advance biomarker discovery in oncology.

Nine Diagnostics has developed a novel nanosensor-based system that leverages AI for high-throughput proteomics and metabolomics. This technology enables rapid, multiplexed detection of biological signatures in clinical samples.

Orbits Oncology, on the other hand, has built an AI-powered computational platform to match cancer patients with the most appropriate therapies based on patient-tumor-specific organoids. The collaboration will combine Nine’s detection capabilities with Orbits’ organoids and predictive algorithms to identify and validate new multi-modal signature profiles that could accelerate therapy matching and improve outcomes for patients.

This partnership exemplifies a growing trend in the biotech sector towards combining molecular tools and AI platforms to deliver more personalized, effective treatments for patients.

About the Merck Digital Sciences Studio

​The Merck Digital Sciences Studio is a collaboration between Merck and the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), a New Jersey Institute of Technology corporation, with investments from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Northpond Ventures and McKesson Ventures. Technology support is provided by Microsoft for Startups.

Through curated cohorts and intensive support, MDSS continues to empower biotech startups tackling some of the most complex challenges in healthcare—from drug development to diagnostics and patient care.

The post MDSS Startups Making Waves: From ARPA-H Awards to AI-Driven Cancer Breakthroughs appeared first on NJII.

Enhancing Law Enforcement with AI-Integration

NJII’s collaboration with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (BCPO) marks a significant leap forward in law enforcement technology. By integrating AI into body-worn cameras (BWCs), NJII is enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement officers, ensuring greater safety and accountability. With a focus on training, NJII is aiming to assist BCPO in proactively identifying strengths and potential problem areas at the hub, allowing for a trickle-down effect at the local level in a latter phase. This initiative builds on the success of previous projects, such as the one with the Newark Police Department, and addresses the growing need to manage the influx of digital evidence effectively.

With New Jersey mandating the use of BWCs for all officers, a substantial $58 million investment has been made, with Bergen County receiving $5.1 million for over 2,500 cameras. The partnership focuses on evaluating and improving BWC policies and capabilities, utilizing AI to manage and prioritize video footage effectively. A study at Arizona State University is currently assessing the impact of these AI tools on officer behavior and community interactions, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in law enforcement practices.

Transforming Healthcare with Cognome

In the healthcare sector, NJII’s strategic partnership with Cognome is set to revolutionize patient care through advanced AI and machine learning (ML) solutions. This collaboration aims to leverage Cognome’s ethical AI tools alongside NJII’s professional services to enhance clinical intelligence and operational efficiencies.

The partnership focuses on high-value use cases, integrating AI models with electronic health records (EHRs) to provide real-time insights to healthcare providers. Notable AI solutions include a sepsis reduction model with the lowest flag rate in the industry and AutoChart AI, which significantly reduces manual chart abstraction. Additionally, the ExplainerAI platform enhances trustworthiness and transparency in AI models, addressing privacy and compliance needs.

For more information, visit New Jersey Innovation Institute and Cognome Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Healthcare Solutions.

Conclusion

NJII’s initiatives in AI are paving the way for enhanced accountability in law enforcement and improved patient care in healthcare. The collaborations with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Cognome exemplify NJII’s commitment to driving innovation and transforming critical sectors through technology.

As NJII continues to lead the charge in AI innovation, we invite you to connect with us to explore how our cutting-edge solutions can benefit your organization. Whether you’re in law enforcement, healthcare, or another industry poised for transformation, NJII is your partner in harnessing the power of AI for a better future. Contact us today to learn more about our initiatives and how we can collaborate to drive meaningful change.

The post Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence: NJII’s Transformative Collaborations in Law Enforcement ans Healthcare appeared first on NJII.

Beyond Traditional Tech Transfer

Most university research never makes it to market. Traditional tech transfer models, which rely on licensing intellectual property to outside firms, often leave promising technologies on the shelf. Industry interest is inconsistent, academic inventors are sidelined, and the licensing terms rarely align incentives in a meaningful way. The NJII Venture Studio addresses this disconnect directly. Instead of waiting for companies to license technologies, the Studio forms new ventures around high-potential innovations, then provides them with capital, executive talent, and operational support. Each startup is carefully structured, staffed, and aligned with a corporate sponsor to ensure market relevance and strategic value from day one. This integrated approach ensures that researchers, corporations, and founders work together to create companies that are both technically viable and commercially scalable.

A Modern Alternative for Corporate R&D

For corporations, the Studio offers more than deal flow. It is a mechanism for structured, capital-efficient innovation. Corporate partners work directly with NJII and its university network to shape new ventures aligned with their strategic needs. They gain early insight into emerging technologies, help define the product roadmap, and retain the option to deepen their investment or acquire the company later on. This model de-risks the innovation process. Rather than building internally or waiting for mature acquisitions, companies can influence early development while sharing the cost and risk with the Studio and the entrepreneurial team.

A Better Path for Academic Researchers

The Studio also provides a compelling opportunity for university inventors. Faculty with commercially promising research are invited to co-develop new ventures alongside experienced startup operators. Rather than simply licensing out their discoveries, researchers retain a role in the business-building process, and a stake in its success.

They benefit from access to startup capital, customer discovery support, and a full suite of operational services provided by NJII. With headquarters at NJIT’s Paul Profeta Center for

Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the Studio ensures that faculty innovations are launched from within a thriving entrepreneurial environment, not in isolation. This structure addresses a critical gap in university innovation: how to move ideas from the lab to the market without expecting researchers to become full-time entrepreneurs or navigate the startup world alone.

Timely, Targeted, Scalable

The Studio operates with a clear focus: launch high-impact startups that achieve a meaningful inflection point (such as revenue, customer adoption, or follow-on investment) within 18 months. It prioritizes sectors where New Jersey has unique strength, including artificial intelligence, human health, smart infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

This timeline and sector focus provide discipline and urgency, which are often missing in traditional commercialization pathways. The result is a repeatable, scalable model for turning academic research into funded, high-growth companies.

Building a New Innovation Infrastructure

As federal research budgets face continued uncertainty, and as corporations seek new ways to source innovation, the NJII Venture Studio offers a pragmatic solution. It creates aligned incentives between public institutions, private enterprise, and entrepreneurial talent while producing tangible economic outcomes for New Jersey and beyond.

The Studio is actively seeking university technologies, corporate partners, and entrepreneurial leaders. For anyone looking to build the next wave of transformative companies, do not hesitate to reach out.

The post A New Blueprint for Innovation: How the NJII Venture Studio Is Redefining University-Corporate appeared first on NJII.

Enhancing Law Enforcement with AI-Integrated Body Cameras

In collaboration with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (BCPO), NJII’s Artificial Intelligence division is continuing to pioneer advancements in body-worn camera (BWC) technology. This initiative builds on our previous success with the Newark Police Department, aiming to enhance safety, accountability, and manage the massive influx of digital evidence that police departments are generating through AI and machine vision integration. With New Jersey’s mandate for all officers to wear BWCs, a significant investment of $58 million has been made, including $5.1 million allocated to Bergen County for over 2,500 cameras

Our partnership with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office focuses on evaluating and improving BWC policies and capabilities. By integrating AI, we aim to address challenges such as reviewing the large amount of body camera video and managing and prioritizing videos. A study at Arizona State University is currently assessing the impact of AI tools on officer behavior and community interactions, highlighting the potential of AI to transform law enforcement practices. [Arnold Ventures, 2024]

Revolutionizing Healthcare Workflows with AI

AI is making significant strides in healthcare, improving operations and patient care across various institutions. At NJII, we are inspired by successful case studies that demonstrate the transformative potential of AI in healthcare:

1. University of Rochester Medical Center: AI-powered ultrasound devices have led to a 116% increase in ultrasound charge capture and a 74% increase in scanning sessions.

2. Valley Medical Center: AI has enhanced observation rates, improving efficiency and job satisfaction among staff.

3. OSF HealthCare: The AI virtual care assistant, Clare, has improved patient navigation and reduced call center traffic.

4. Healthfirst: Collaboration with ClosedLoop has automated data processes, enhancing predictive analytics for patient outcomes.

5. University of Alabama at Birmingham Medicine: AI is used for real-time data monitoring during surgeries, improving patient care. [VKTR, 2024]

These examples underscore AI’s role in reshaping healthcare by optimizing hospital operations, enhancing patient monitoring, and personalizing care. [PMC, 2023]

Ensuring Secure Deployment of Large Language Models

As we integrate AI into critical sectors, ensuring the security of Large Language Models (LLMs) is paramount. NJII is committed to implementing best practices for secure LLM deployment, including:

– Secure Data Collection: Protecting training data from malicious inputs

– Data Verification: Using automated assessments to ensure data integrity

– Federated Learning: Training LLMs on decentralized data to enhance privacy

– API Security: Securing APIs to prevent unauthorized access and attacks

– User Prompt Protection: Implementing data sanitization to prevent prompt injection attacks [Check Point, 2025]

Conclusion

The integration of AI in law enforcement and healthcare is paving the way for enhanced accountability, operational efficiency, and personalized patient care. As these technologies continue to evolve, they have the potential to significantly improve public safety and health outcomes. At NJII, we are dedicated to driving this transformation and invite you to join us on this journey. Connect with us to explore how AI can revolutionize your organization and contribute to a safer, healthier future.

For more information and to collaborate with NJII, visit our website at NJII.com.

The post Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence: Transforming Law Enforcement and Healthcare appeared first on NJII.

Interoperability is more than just a technical requirement; it is essential for equitable healthcare. By allowing healthcare providers to access and share patient data easily, interoperability helps identify and tackle health disparities, particularly among historically underserved populations. Effective data sharing is key to addressing inequities in healthcare. 

Data exchange ensures that healthcare providers have access to relevant patient information, leading to informed decision-making and better patient outcomes. Interoperability enhances the quality of care by providing a view of a patient’s health history. Interoperability facilitates access to anonymous patient data, supporting public health research and helping identify health trends and disparities. This capability is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve health outcomes across different populations. Additionally, by reducing administrative burdens and preventing unnecessary duplication of tests, interoperable systems can lead to significant cost savings in healthcare. This efficiency not only benefits healthcare providers but also makes healthcare more accessible and affordable for patients. 

Despite its potential, achieving health equity through interoperability is not without its challenges. Data silos and the lack of standardized data sharing hinder the ability to track health outcomes effectively, particularly for vulnerable populations. Practices that block information can worsen health disparities by preventing effective data exchange. 

To achieve the full potential of interoperability in advancing health equity, several strategies must be implemented. Integrating various data sources, including claims, clinical, and social determinants of health, can help identify care gaps and tailor interventions. Effective interoperability requires coordination among payers, providers, and community organizations to ensure comprehensive care. Collaborative efforts can lead to more patient-centered healthcare solutions. Utilizing standardized data formats can improve data sharing and the quality of health information. 

At NJII, we are committed to advancing health equity through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships. For more information visit NJII.com and discover how we can work together to make a difference in healthcare.

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