Georgetown Univ. and Hackensack Univ. Medical Center Form Cancer Center Affiliation

Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and HackensackUMC's John Theurer Cancer Center to Develop Consortium

WASHINGTON and HACKENSACK, N.J., April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and John Theurer Cancer Center, part of Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J., announce the establishment of an oncology affiliation agreement to foster robust collaboration among clinicians and researchers from both institutions. The affiliation will allow greater patient access to innovative clinical trials, and is a significant step towards the future goal of developing a clinical, translational and basic science cancer research consortium.

While remaining independent institutions, Georgetown Lombardi and the John Theurer Cancer Center (JTCC) will jointly develop and enhance oncology research and teaching programs, which are designed to impact and inform science, education and patient care beyond the borders of each institution.

"Today marks a significant opportunity for the Hackensack University Health Network, HackensackUMC and Georgetown Lombardi," says Robert C. Garrett, president and CEO of the Hackensack University Health Network. "We look forward to working hand-in-hand with our colleagues at Georgetown Lombardi, deploying more resources in the quest to find better prevention, screening and treatments for cancer. This new affiliation will create numerous possibilities for our researchers, physicians and nurses, and most importantly, our patients. The sum is greater than its parts in this affiliation," Garrett says.

"The driving force behind this affiliation is a shared vision to create vigorous research collaborations — accelerating science in a manner otherwise not possible," says Howard J. Federoff, MD, PhD, executive vice president for health sciences at Georgetown University Medical Center and executive dean of Georgetown's School of Medicine. "This affiliation is just what the National Cancer Institute is encouraging — collaborations to accelerate discovery, with broad capabilities to then disseminate new findings and put them into clinical practice."

Georgetown Lombardi is the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region's only comprehensive cancer center, a designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) indicating its scientific excellence and the capability to integrate multi-disciplinary, collaborative research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer. According to the NCI, comprehensive cancer centers "play a vital role in advancing towards our goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cancer."

The John Theurer Cancer Center at HackensackUMC is a nationally renowned, award-winning cancer center with a strong clinical program of excellence. JTCC is ranked among the 50 best hospitals in the United States and is the highest-ranked cancer center in New Jersey in the 2012-13 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals ranking.

As part of the affiliation, the two institutions are developing a multi-year plan to form an NCI-recognized consortium center, in which investigators from separate but collaborating scientific institutions contribute actively to the development and actualization of a specific cancer research agenda. This new affiliation provides the initial framework, shared governance and joint research collaborations that can lead to NCI consortium status.

"As part of this integrated affiliation, researchers from Georgetown Lombardi and Hackensack will have access to each institutions' equipment and resources, allowing for cost-effective maximization of state-of-the-art technologies," explains Louis M. Weiner, MD, director of Georgetown Lombardi. "In addition, Hackensack researchers are invited to pursue academic appointments at Georgetown," Weiner says.

"Our current research activity will benefit from an expanded set of resources including access to Georgetown's exceptional staff and certain technologies, which will ultimately enable and empower cancer patients to gain greater access to treatment and care," says Andrew L. Pecora, MD, FACP, CPE, vice president, chief innovations officer and cancer services, HackensackUMC.

"We are very excited to form this affiliation, which will allow us to continue to advance the field forward and improve patient outcomes," says Andre Goy, MD, MS, chairman and director, John Theurer Cancer Center.

This affiliation is an addition to an agreement signed earlier this year between HackensackUMC-affiliated physicians from the John Theurer Cancer Center's Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation Program and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH), Georgetown University Medical Center's clinical partner. This physicians' services agreement establishes a blood and marrow stem cell transplantation program at MGUH in Washington, D.C. The program will integrate both research and medical education programs.

"Both agreements point to a deepening relationship between Georgetown and HackensackUMC that allows us to incorporate research exploration and clinical trials in the field of blood and marrow stem cell transplantation," Weiner says. "This is one of many clinical and research areas that will be enhanced by this new affiliation."

The affiliation was signed by representatives of both parties April 4, 2013 and took effect immediately.

About John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center
John Theurer Cancer Center at HackensackUMC is among the nation's top 50 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for cancer – the highest-ranked in New Jersey with this designation. It is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive cancer center dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, management, research, screenings, preventive care, as well as survivorship of patients with all types of cancer.

Each year, more people in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area turn to the John Theurer Cancer Center for cancer care than to any other facility in New Jersey. The 14 specialized divisions feature a team of medical, research, nursing, and support staff with specialized expertise that translates into more advanced, focused care for all patients. The John Theurer Cancer Center provides comprehensive multidisciplinary care, state of the art technology, access to clinical trials, compassionate care and medical expertise—all under one roof. Physicians at the John Theurer Cancer Center are members of Regional Cancer Care Associates one of the nation's largest professional hematology/oncology groups. For more information please visit jtcancercenter.org.

About Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Georgetown Lombardi is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute, and the only one in the Washington, DC, area. For more information, go to http://lombardi.georgetown.edu.

About Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization (BGRO), which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical Translation and Science Award from the National Institutes of Health.

About Hackensack University Medical Center
HackensackUMC, a nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, New Jersey, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. This 775-bed facility has created an entire campus of care, including: the Heart & Vascular Hospital, the John Theurer Cancer Center, the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, and the Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey and one of the top four New York metro area hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report, and has received nine national rankings in: Cancer; Cardiology & Heart Surgery; Ear, Nose & Throat; Gastroenterology; Geriatrics; Neurology & Neurosurgery; Orthopedics; Urology; and the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital ranked as one of the Top 25 Best Children's Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery in the 2012-13 Best Children's Hospitals list. HackensackUMC is among Healthgrades® America's Best 100 Hospitals in 10 different areas – more than any other hospital in the nation, is one of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals™ for seven years in a row, and received the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 11 years in a row. The medical center has also been named a Leapfrog Top Hospital, and received 19 Gold Seals of Approval™ by the Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence. HackensackUMC is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls, and remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more about one of the nation's 50 best hospitals, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.   

SOURCE Georgetown University Medical Center; Hackensack University Medical Center