RWJBarnabas has announced the launch of the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey's first and only freestanding cancer hospital. 

The 12-storey, 520,000ft² facility stands out as one of just 13 freestanding cancer hospitals in the US.

It is connected to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute by a skybridge, creating a unified hub that offers research laboratories, inpatient and outpatient cancer services.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said: “As the first and only freestanding cancer hospital in New Jersey, this centre represents a powerful investment in the health and well-being of our neighbours who are battling cancer.”

The centre has 96 inpatient beds and a dedicated floor for surgical and procedural services.

It also features a paediatric clinical space inspired by the "Jersey Shore," complete with radiation oncology, diagnostics, an on-site pharmacy, and laboratories backing ten independent research teams.

In addition to the inpatient facilities, the Morris Cancer Center offers 88 infusion bays and 80 exam rooms for both adult and paediatric outpatient care. The infrastructure is designed to facilitate the latest clinical trials.

Named in honour of philanthropists Jack and Sheryl Morris, the hospital includes a range of supportive amenities, including massage and exercise therapy, and a wellness garden.

The Morris Cancer Center is a key element of RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute’s ongoing investment in cancer services.

RWJBarnabas Health president and CEO Mark Manigan said: “This incredible facility is the cornerstone of a $1.5bn investment in cancer services that we are making across the Garden State.”

The expansion includes the construction of the Melchiorre Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and the Specialty and Cancer Care Center at the Vogel Medical Campus, which are set to open next year.

This initiative is a collaborative effort involving the New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO), Middlesex County, and the City of New Brunswick.

The opening of the Morris Cancer Center follows RWJBarnabas Health's installation of the ClearPoint navigation system and ROSA ONE Brain technology last October, which aims to improve neurosurgical precision and performance.