Rutgers School of Nursing Magazine - Summer 2026

4 RUTGERS NURSING • SUMMER 2026 TheGreat Match R E S E ARCH How Leorey Saligan is building connections to advance nursing science at Rutgers L eorey Saligan, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, believes that alone we are smart— but together we are brilliant. Guided by that credo, he is uniting research- ers, ideas, and resources as professor and inaugural vice dean of research at Rutgers School of Nursing. Saligan, a nationally certified family nurse practitioner, joined the school last fall as an adjunct professor and stepped into the vice dean role in Feb- ruary 2026. Before that, he spent 20 years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)— most recently as a tenured senior investigator. Concurrently, he served in the United States Public Health Ser- vice Commissioned Corps, stationed at the NIH, before retiring as a captain. Driven by Experience His research investigates persistent cancer-related fatigue and related symptoms—cognitive impairment, pain, and sleep disturbances—to improve quality of life for cancer patients, survivors, and their families. This focus is profoundly informed by his time as the caregiver for both par- ents during their cancer treatments. “I supported my mother through a mastectomy complicated by infection, followed by radiation and multiple rounds of chemotherapy,” he says. “Then I cared for my father,” Saligan continues, “as he underwent radiation without hormone therapy because of his heart condition. These experiences deeply shaped my commitment to advancing the science of supportive cancer care so that other caregivers can better navigate the challenges.” Saligan began asking: “What does ‘my tank is empty’ mean biologically?” Focusing on mitochondrial function— the body’s energy source—his team discovered and patented biomarkers for chronic fatigue, which affects nearly 4 million Americans. “Most people don’t grasp the depth and severity of how intrusive and debilitating that is.” In February 2026, Saligan pub- lished a proof-of-concept study on ketamine’s ability to boost the body’s energy stores. “We found almost a 39%