Could the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey be nearing its end as a stand-alone institution? State legislative leaders have appointed a committee to study whether to merge the public-health university with Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the state’s other two public research universities. The lawmakers think combining the institutions could spur public and private investment and build interest in the state’s research and technology sectors.

And Richard J. Codey, a Democrat who is president of the State Senate, said a merger could be the answer to continuing revelations of widespread waste and abuse at the University of Medicine and Dentistry. “What has gone on at UMDNJ—in terms of the scandals and investigations—has clearly prompted us as legislators to take a better look at this situation,” Mr. Codey told The Star-Ledger, a newspaper in Newark.

The idea to merge the three universities was first studied in 2003 but was abandoned because of concerns about cost and opposition from the governing boards of the institutions (The Chronicle, April 2, 2004). Officials at the universities were more circumspect in their comments on Tuesday, saying that they would work with the panel.