Following a nationwide search, Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health have appointed Matthew Matasar, MD, MS, as Chief of Blood Disorders at Rutgers Cancer Institute. In his new role, Matasar will lead the enhancement of multi-disciplinary clinical services including programmatic growth of the bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy programs across the health system. He will also lead clinical research activities within the division and collaborate with colleagues across RWJBarnabas Health on increasing access to clinical trials. Dr. Matasar will serve as professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and will join us in November from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Learn more

Together with investigators at Oncode and group leaders at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Shridar Ganesan, MD, PhD, chief of molecular oncology, associate director for translational research, and Omar Boraie Chair in Genomic Science at Rutgers Cancer Institute found new opportunities to improve diagnostics and targeted therapy for many cancer patients. The team explored genetic alterations in the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene, which contributes to the formation of tumors. Their findings, published in the online version of Nature (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05066-5), lay the groundwork for development of clinical trials aimed at rationally increasing the number of patients who will benefit from FGFR inhibitor therapy. Learn more

Many students, parents and school staff are eagerly looking forward to the coming school year. It is important to be reminded of ways to protect children’s overall health and wellness, especially if your child is immunosuppressed due to treatment for cancer or other health conditions. Peter Cole, MD, chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Embrace Kids Foundation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, shares the importance of reinforcing every day precautions, keeping up-to date with vaccinations and monitoring your child’s health as students begin returning to the classroom. Learn more

September marks a list of cancers that are highlighted nationally for increased awareness including childhood cancer, gynecologic cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia and lymphoma, and thyroid cancer. Experts from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health share important information on these cancers including how people who identify as Hispanic can reduce their cancer risk, CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancers, common questions on thyroid health and more. Visit our September awareness page