New Jersey Center for Rare Disorders
Rutgers Health | Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital | RWJBarnabas Health
Coordinated, expert care for patients with rare, complex, and difficult-to-diagnose conditions.
One Center. Many Disciplines. One Coordinated Mission.
The New Jersey Center for Rare Disorders (NJCRD) delivers coordinated, expert care for patients with rare, complex, and difficult-to-diagnose conditions. Located at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and developed in partnership with Rutgers Health and RWJBarnabas Health, the NJCRD integrates multidisciplinary clinical excellence, advanced diagnostics, and cutting-edge research to shorten the path to diagnosis, personalize treatment, and expand access to clinical trials.
NJCRD is also a National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)–designated Center of Excellence, placing it among a select group of academic medical centers nationwide recognized for excellence in treating rare diseases, research, education, and patient engagement.
Why Us
Patients with rare diseases often experience years of uncertainty, fragmented care, and delayed treatment.
NJCRD addresses this gap for patients and families in New Jersey and the region by leveraging the full strength of RWJBarnabas Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, together with Rutgers’ academic and research leadership. The result is a single, coordinated point of care that unites specialists, diagnostics, and research around each patient’s unique needs on the flagship academic medical campus in New Brunswick.
Coordinated Care for Complex Conditions
NJCRD brings together leading specialists across Rutgers Health and RWJBarnabas Health through an integrated hub-and-spoke model.
Central Hub
Cardiology
- Advanced imaging and diagnostics
- Biomarker discovery
- Patient triage and registries
- Clinical trials and translational research
Multidisciplinary Specialties
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonology
- Endocrinology
- Hematology & Oncology from NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center/Rutgers Cancer Institute
- Nephrology
- Genetics
Patients benefit from unified treatment planning, streamlined diagnostics, and seamless access to specialty expertise—all coordinated through a single care team.
Nationally Recognized Programs, Delivered Locally
NJCRD builds on established clinical excellence at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, including:
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Center of Excellence
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence
- Cardiac Fabrys’ Center of Excellence
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program
- Adult Sickle Cell Disease Program
- Difficult Diagnosis Clinic for complex and undiagnosed cases
These programs provide nationally competitive care while allowing patients to remain close to home.
Leadership Team
Director: Sabahat Bokhari, MD, FACC, FASNC
Co-Director: Naveena Yanamala, PhD
NJCRD is led by a multidisciplinary team of nationally recognized clinicians, scientists, and innovators across adult and pediatric specialties.
Designed for Patients, Providers, and Partners
Patients & Families
Receive expert evaluation, coordinated care, and access to advanced diagnostics and clinical trials.
Referring Physicians
Partner with a multidisciplinary rare disease team for complex or undiagnosed patients.
Research & Industry Partners
Collaborate with us to advance rare disease discovery and translation.