In 2025, we reached several major milestones, including elevation to institute status. Our world-class cancer research received national attention for studies on mRNA therapeutics, the role of diet in lung cancer, new glioblastoma treatments and more. We enriched our novel education and community outreach activities, as we achieved national excellence in clinical care.
Check out some of our top stories below.
Elevation to UF Health Cancer Institute
This fall, we reached a major milestone: elevation to the UF Health Cancer Institute. Institute designation is reserved for UF units that truly engage in cross-campus collaboration, and we are proud to draw members from all 16 University of Florida colleges.
Together, we’re studying every aspect of cancer, from prevention, to diagnosis and treatment, to survivorship. We’re accelerating cancer research across disciplines, and we’re on an upward trajectory as a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.
Study finds COVID-19 mRNA vaccine sparks immune response to fight cancer
Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D., co-leader of our Immuno-Oncology and Microbiome research program, was a senior author on a groundbreaking discovery that a widely available mRNA vaccine may help train the immune system to eliminate cancer.
The observation, published in Nature, marks a significant step toward a long-awaited universal cancer vaccine to boost the tumor-fighting effects of immunotherapy.
Increasing access to cancer screenings
Working closely with UF Health, our Office of Community Outreach and Engagement began offering 3D mammograms this fall on our Mobile Cancer Screening Connector. We’re proud that in the first six weeks of operation, 84 mammograms were provided at 10 events in six counties.
In addition to offering mammograms, the mobile vehicle team provides FIT tests to screen for colorectal cancer and cervical cancer screening kits, educates people on cancer prevention and early detection, and assists people with participating in UF research studies.
The vehicle traveled to dozens of events throughout the year to offer cancer education and resources. Community partners have included The Beautiful Gate Cancer Support and Resource Center, Rural Women’s Health Project, the Alachua County School Board, AZA Health, SDAC Health Ministry and many others.
UF Health Shands Hospital named top 50 cancer hospital in U.S.
UF Health Shands Hospital is ranked among the country’s top 50 hospitals for cancer treatment, according to the 2025-26 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” report. The specialty is ranked No. 39, placing the health system among the most distinguished in the country for high-quality, innovative cancer care.
The prestigious ranking is a testament to the leading-edge cancer research at the UF Health Cancer Institute, the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center at a public institution in Florida. The Cancer Institute is advancing new, more effective treatments for patients with cancer.
Weight loss medications linked to lower cancer risk
UF researchers including Thomas George, M.D., FACP, FASCO, and Yi Guo, Ph.D., and collaborators found that a popular class of weight loss drugs is associated with lower cancer risk.
Published in JAMA Oncology, the large observational study used real-world data from OneFlorida+, a powerful multi-state resource of anonymous health records created by the UF Clinical & Translational Science Institute and the UF Health Cancer Institute. Researchers found that GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro were associated with a 17% lower cancer risk compared to non-users. Cancer incidence was lower for 12 of 13 obesity-related cancers, plus lung cancer. In particular, taking GLP-1 medications was associated with a reduced risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers and meningioma, but researchers noted an increased risk of kidney cancer.
NCI-funded cancer research internship positions undergraduates for success
We welcomed a wonderful group of undergraduate students into our STRONGER summer internship.
This year, the immersive 12-week STRONGER program obtained funding through a National Cancer Institute cancer research education grant (PI: Dietmar Siemann, Ph.D.) and expanded nationally.
Undergraduates develop their skills as young scientists through training with accomplished UF cancer investigators. Crucially, the program helps students take the next step in their careers.
Applications are now open for the 2026 program!
UF researchers aim to improve nutrition for cancer patients
Funded through a Florida Department of Health Innovation Grant, the multi-center Florida ASCENT study is building practical digital solutions to meet nutritional needs, ensuring every patient lives well after cancer.
The study is a partnership between the UF Health Cancer Institute and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. It includes a first-of-its-kind food pharmacy at the University of Florida, located at the UF Clinical & Translational Science Institute.
Researchers want to improve nutritional education and services for patients by embedding community engagement into the project itself. The multidisciplinary study team includes patients, clinicians, community partners and others from multiple UF colleges.
Cancer AI Symposium explores how AI is transforming cancer research, care
From veterinary pathology to cancer genomics to surgery, researchers across disciplines gathered Nov. 5 at the UF Health Cancer Institute’s annual Cancer AI Symposium. The event, organized by the Cancer AI Working Group, explored how artificial intelligence is transforming the way researchers and clinicians study, diagnose and treat cancer.
The symposium, now in its fourth year, featured three keynote talks, presentations from the Cancer Institute’s AI pilot grant awardees and a student-led hackathon focused on human-centered data science. A poster session allowed researchers from medicine, veterinary science, pathology and physics to present studies that use AI to analyze complex data, improve diagnostic accuracy and personalize treatment.
Research points to link between diet, lung cancer
A study from UF Health Cancer Institute uncovered an association between lung cancer and poor diet.
“Lung cancer has not traditionally been thought of as a dietary-related disease,” said Ramon Sun, Ph.D., an associate professor and director of the UF Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research. “Diseases like pancreatic cancer or liver cancer, yes. However, when it comes to lung cancer, the idea that diet could play a role is rarely discussed.”
To the team’s knowledge, this is the first study of the association between lung cancer and poor diet at an NCI-designated cancer center, said study collaborator Matthew Gentry, Ph.D., a professor and chair of biochemistry and molecular biology at the UF College of Medicine.
The team used a high-content spatial metabolomics platform Sun created in 2020.
Training exceptional cancer researchers
The Cancer Biology Concentration in the UF College of Medicine Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences is marking 10 years. Since it began, 63 trainees have joined the concentration, which currently has 28 students and features 45 UF Health Cancer Institute members serving as mentors. Thirty-five trainees have completed their doctoral training, with 12 in postdoctoral or medical/clinical training, four in academic research, 15 in industry and one in the nonprofit sector. Postgraduates have authored 145 publications.
In addition, 38 students have served as UF Health Cancer Institute Ambassadors, 22 have received Predoctoral Awards, seven have completed the TL1 training program and three have completed the Team-based Interdisciplinary Cancer Research Training Program.
