A researcher from the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) has been recognized with the Research & Development Council of New Jersey’s inaugural Emerging Tech Award. Olivier Loudig, Ph.D., an associate member of CDI, received this award for his work on biomarker discovery aimed at early detection of metastasizing breast cancer and lung cancer. The award was presented during the 45th annual Edison Patent Awards Ceremony held on November 21 at Bell Works in Holmdel.
"This is a major recognition for Dr. Loudig’s innovative, exciting work," stated Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO 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 healthcare."
Loudig's research focuses on discovering cancer biomarkers, particularly in breast, lung, prostate, and bladder cancers. In collaboration with senior research associate Megan I. Mitchell, Ph.D., they have developed technologies and secured patents for isolating circulating extracellular vesicles found in exhaled breath condensates. These can be analyzed to enable early non-invasive detection of lung diseases and cancers.
"Olivier Loudig’s work is a great example of the CDI’s science accelerating discoveries into innovations to change lives as soon as possible," commented Ihor Sawczuk, M.D., FACS, president of Academics, Research and Innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health.
Loudig joined Hackensack University Medical Center in 2017 and was among the founding laboratories when CDI was established in 2019. He describes his work as "refining the threshold of detection" through isolating unique disease-specific biomarkers.
The Emerging Tech Award honors individuals or teams from New Jersey whose early-stage inventions could significantly impact the marketplace. Other individual award winners included Brian Kernighan, Ph.D., Christopher Paldino, Anthony Lowman, Ph.D., and Judith Sheft.
Award winners were selected by the R&D Council's Board based on various criteria including problem significance and commercial impact. The event also honored Edison Patent Award winners like BASF Environmental Catalyst and 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 University; Siemens Technology; and the U.S. Army.
"This year’s theme of ‘Jersey Innovates, The World Takes,’ celebrates New Jersey’s research community’s global impact," said Colleen Ruegger, RPh, Ph.D., chair of the R&D Council Board.
"From the inventions of the lightbulb to transistors to antibiotics," Ruegger added, "New Jersey has been – and continues to be – at the forefront of life-altering innovations."
