message from our director

For more than a decade, we have been on a journey to bring North Central Florida an NCI-designated cancer center. We assembled a highly collaborative leadership team and invested in infrastructure, people and programs. We engaged more than 350 faculty across every college at the University of Florida.

Every day, we have asked ourselves a singular question: How are we moving the field of cancer research forward to benefit our patients and our community? The members of the UF Health Cancer Institute rose to this challenge, according to the four pillars of our institute, first making fundamental discoveries. We then translated these from theory to practice on behalf of a community that we better understand through meaningful engagement. And throughout this process, we have been preparing and educating the next generation of the cancer research workforce.

Many centers have tried, but over the past 15 years only a handful of centers have been added to this national roster of distinction. We are thrilled to add the University of Florida to this list as the 72nd NCI-designated cancer center and the only one in Florida at a public university.

Over the next decade, our goals are to make discoveries that change paradigms in the understanding of cancer; improve cancer care by leading practice-changing trials; and develop new therapies based on UF laboratory discoveries. We also aim to address the risk factors for cancer, particularly among our rural and underserved populations, and inform polices that support improved health and reduce the burden of cancer on our patients and their families.

Thanks to all of you, we are closer to our shared vision of a future where highly personalized approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment are the norm and the burden of cancer on our neighbors, friends and loved ones is eliminated.

Jonathan D. Licht, M.D.
Director, UF Health Cancer Institute

ADVANCING Tomorrow’s treatments

DRIVING DISCOVERY

Leading-edge cancer research

The UF Health Cancer Institute’s clinician-scientists participate in research that has a direct impact on improved patient outcomes and allows patients access to the latest cancer-fighting technologies and drugs.

EXCEPTIONAL CLINICAL CARE

Providing new hope for patients

The UF Health Cancer Institute has a portfolio of nearly 300 active clinical trials. At UF Health, patients have access to innovative scientific research that translates directly into leading-edge clinical care.