Why NJCRI Is Recognized for Research and Public Health Partnerships

The North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI) is a nonprofit research and healthcare organization with a longstanding role in advancing public health through field-based research, health education, and collaborative partnerships. NJCRI maintains a focus on data-driven innovation in areas such as HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), harm reduction, and health equity for underserved populations. 

During the 2023–2024 program years, NJCRI contributed original research and practice-based insights at national and international scientific conferences. These engagements support the dissemination of evidence-based interventions and reflect the organization’s commitment to knowledge exchange and continuous program improvement. 

Select Conference Engagements and Research Presentations 

May 2025 – European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)

Held in Amsterdam, this annual congress convened over 8,000 global experts in hepatology and featured more than 2,500 research abstracts. NJCRI’s Director of Research, Corey DeStefano, and Program Manager, Kevin Leyden, represented the agency, participating in sessions that addressed viral hepatitis, liver cancer, and prevention strategies. Key takeaways are informing NJCRI’s applied research and public health programming in liver health. 

Conferences Where NJCRI Presented (2023–2024): 

• Global Hepatitis Summit – Paris, France (April 2023) 

• American Society for Nutrition – Boston, MA (July 2023) 

• ID Week – Boston, MA (October 2023) and Los Angeles, CA (October 2024) 

• International Conference on Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) – Geneva, Switzerland (October 2023) and Athens, Greece (October 2024) 

• American Public Health Association (APHA) – Atlanta, GA (November 2023) and Minneapolis, MN (October 2024) 

• IVHEM Conference – Amsterdam, Netherlands (December 2023) 

• World Hepatitis Summit – Lisbon, Portugal (April 2023) 

• National Latinx Conference on HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs – San Jose, TX (May 2024) 

• Synchronicity Conference on HIV, HCV, STI, Harm Reduction, and LGBTQ Health – Washington, DC (May–June 2024) 

• ADLM Conference – Chicago, IL (July–August 2024) 

• National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment – Washington, DC (August 2024) 

• Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference – Philadelphia, PA (September 2024)