New Brunswick, N.J. (June 24, 2026) — RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center—the state’s first and only freestanding cancer hospital and one of only 13 freestanding cancer hospitals in the nation – this week. In its first year, the state-of-the-art facility has exceeded expectations in clinical services, reimagining the delivery of advanced cancer treatment in New Jersey and emerging as a key destination for outstanding outpatient and inpatient services.
“The tremendous response to the Morris Cancer Center over the past year demonstrates the need for and value of having NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Care available right here in New Jersey,” said Steven K. Libutti, MD, FACS, William N. Hait Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute and Senior Vice President of Oncology Services for RWJBarnabas Health. “This milestone and the opening of the Melchiorre Cancer Center is a testament of our commitment to expand access and deliver the best care for patients and families in the state and beyond.”
Operating consistently at full capacity, the center delivers patient-centered care, providing hope and healing to thousands of families across the state and beyond. It is a direct response to a growing demand from residents to bring quality, world-class services close to home, while also attracting patients from across the region.
“We’re only one year in, and the Morris Cancer Center is already raising the high bar we initially set,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health. “We purpose-built the Morris to put leading-edge research and world-class care in one place and within reach of every cancer patient, cutting out the long travel times and waits too many families had known before. By every metric, we are succeeding
In its first year, the Morris Cancer has:
- Treated more than 85,000 patients
- Delivered more than 23,000 chemotherapy infusions
- Delivered nearly 20,000 radiation therapy treatments
- Performed over 1,900 surgical procedures
- Offered access to close to 300 innovative clinical trials
The strong inaugural year of the Morris Cancer Center shows the power of integrating groundbreaking research with patient care. Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health provide patients from across the region access to innovative clinical trials, cellular therapies, complex surgical procedures, sophisticated radiation therapy techniques and the latest technologies such as the MR-Linear Accelerator that support highly personalized care.
Coinciding with the Morris Cancer Center’s anniversary is the next phase of the RWJBarnabas Health’s $1.5 billion investment to transform cancer care across New Jersey with the opening this week of the Melchiorre Cancer Center in Livingston, NJ. Together, the two facilities ensure more patients have access to the most advanced treatments, leading specialists, innovative clinical trials, and comprehensive support services close to home.
Located on the campus of Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, the five-story, 137,000-square-foot Melchiorre Cancer Center will serve as the northern destination for oncology services for RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, bringing together multidisciplinary specialists, researchers, nurses, support teams and advanced technology under one roof. Further expansion of advanced oncology services is expected next year with the planned opening of the Specialty and Cancer Care Center on the Vogel Medical Campus in Tinton Falls, N.J.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians providing care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org
About Rutgers Cancer Institute
As New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute, together with RWJBarnabas Health, provides patients access to the most advanced cancer treatment options including clinical trials close to home at our facilities throughout the state. Our groundbreaking cancer research is the engine that drives access to the most advanced cancer treatments, where our discoveries become your care.
Media Contact:
Carrie Cristello
Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org