New drug delivery mechanism could aid breast cancer treatment

Using a delivery system that relies on extracellular vesicles, UF Health Cancer Institute researchers have found a way to make treatment for an aggressive breast cancer more effective.

ABOUT US

About Us The University of Florida Health Cancer Institute is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center at a public university in Florida. Our mission is to prevent, detect, treat and ultimately cure cancer while addressing the unique challenges of the cancer burden faced by the population we serve.

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NCI Designation NCI-designated cancer centers meet rigorous standards for transdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research focused on developing new and better approaches to preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer.

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Meet Our Members The UF Health Cancer Institute has a robust membership of more than 350 researchers from all 16 University of Florida colleges.

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Explore Clinical Trials Patients in North Central Florida and beyond have access to the most advanced cancer treatments and innovation — backed by research conducted by dedicated scientists.

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Cancer Institute News & Updates

Heather Kates named co-leader of Computational…

Heather Kates, Ph.D., will co-lead the Computational Biology Unit with Qianqian Song, Ph.D.

Heather Kates

Aline Fares selected for international lung…

Aline Fares is one of just 40 physicians worldwide who will participate in the professional development program.

Headshot of Aline Fares on a blue background.

Ji-Hyun Lee reflects on her American Statistical…

While her presidency of the largest professional group for statisticians and data scientists in the world has ended, Lee has no plans to stop leading…

Wearing a blue blazer, Ji-Hyun Lee poses for a portrait at a desk in front of a whiteboard with annotations and notes.

Cancer Research News

New drug delivery mechanism could aid breast…

Scientists have found a way to make treatment for a notoriously aggressive breast cancer more effective.

A group of scientists in white lab coats poses for a group photo in the research lab.

How is AI transforming cancer care? UF…

The research team provided a snapshot of how AI may improve and personalize cancer care.

A scientist in a while coat wearing a stethoscope around their shoulder holds a clipboard and makes notes while working in a lab.

Gut bacteria molecule boosts lung cancer…

A small compound produced naturally by gut bacteria doubled the response to lung cancer immunotherapy treatment in mice.

A male researcher in a blue shirt and a female researcher in a white lab coat pose in front of a piece of laboratory equipment in a research lab.

Mobile Cancer Screening Connector

Reducing Barriers to Care

Mobile Cancer Screening Connector

The UF Health Cancer Institute's mobile cancer screening vehicle is outfitted with leading-edge technology to bring a range of cancer screening and health care services directly to the communities it serves. The mobile vehicle is the first of its kind in North Central Florida.

UF Health Cancer Institute Mobile Cancer Screening Connector bus parked outdoors on a sunny day, featuring blue and orange branding with illustrated figures and informational text on the side

NCI Designation

A Milestone for North Central Florida

Designation from the National Cancer Institute

In June 2023, the UF Health Cancer Institute became the 72nd NCI-designated cancer center and the only NCI-designated cancer center based at a public university in the state of Florida.

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Around the Institute

Clinical Research

Clinical Research Office

The mission of the UF Health Cancer Institute’s Clinical Research Office, or CRO, is to help deliver new and promising cancer treatments that improve the lives of our patients at the UF Health Cancer Institute.

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Research

Research Programs

The UF Health Cancer Institute is committed to interdisciplinary basic discovery and translational research and the pursuit of scientific endeavors that have near-term clinical applications. The research priorities of the Cancer Institute cut across and align with its four research programs.

Weizhou Zhang, Ph.D., and collaborators in the UF College of Pharmacy have developed a first-of-its-kind compound that could open a new avenue for using immunotherapy to treat various types of cancer.

Patient Care

Treatment options

One of the great benefits of receiving cancer care at an academic health center like UF Health is unique patient access to the most advanced medical research, treatments and technologies.

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VIDEO FEATURE

TRANSFORMING CANCER CARE

Florida ASCENT study aims to improve nutrition in cancer care

Funded through a Florida Department of Health Innovation Grant, the ASCENT (Adding Social Context to Advance Cancer Survivorship) study is a partnership between the UF Health Cancer Institute and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center that aims to improve nutrition in cancer care and enhance survivors' quality of life.

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Publications

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2024 Annual Report

Annual Report

Discover the UF Health Cancer Institute's accomplishments and key statistics in 2024.

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Stratetic Plan

Accelerate 2030

Explore the UF Health Cancer Institute's strategic goals and priorities.

EVENTS

UF Health Cancer Institute Calendar

Upcoming Events

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