Mark your calendar
Program Meeting
First Thursday of every two months | 3-4 p.m. | Online via Zoom ResearchDevelopment@cancer.ufl.edu
Mission
The overarching objective of the Cancer Targeting and Therapeutics (CTT) program at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center is to accelerate discovery, development and clinical translation of targeted small molecule and bio-therapies.

This research is done by engaging key cancer pathways and identifying and developing novel biomarkers, assays and methods for rapid agent selection and clinical translation as part of precision oncology approaches. The program engages members of all four UF Health Cancer Center programs.
It is implemented by disease group-focused mini-retreats, program meetings and IIT Think Tank (i2T3)-mediated structured facilitation of the translation of discoveries ranging from high-throughput screening initiatives for identification of new therapies for effective and efficient translation into clinical trials.
In this way, translation of CTT discoveries is systematically facilitated across all programs. Candidate discoveries for clinical development are evaluated by the associate directors for translation & innovation in collaboration with research program leaders for basic, population and clinical research. Concept to trial development is facilitated using i2T3 resources and CROs, which include relevant stakeholders (e.g., researchers, center leadership, Citizen Scientists), statistical expertise (BCB-SR), representative populations (COE and PED), trainees (CaRTEC) and key regulatory experience (e.g., FDA IND/IDE application).
Aims
The aims of the CTT program are to discover and develop targeted therapeutics engaging key cancer pathways; identify and develop novel biomarkers, assays, materials and methods to improve therapeutic outcomes; and apply novel concepts for improvement of cancer therapy through translation.
Program Co-leaders
Learn more about Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., and TImothy Spicer, Ph.D.
Program Members
To request an update, please email ResearchDevelopment@cancer.ufl.edu.
Jane V Aldrich, BSM,PHD
Professor
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Pain Management
- Targeted Cancer Therapy
Robert J Amdur, BA,MD
Professor
Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Head & Neck
- Palliative Care
- Skin/Melanoma
- Thyroid
Thomas Ettor Angelini, BA,BS,MS,PHD
Professor
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Collective Cell Motion
- Soft Matter Physics
- Tribology of Soft Matter Interfaces
Naziheh Assarzadegan, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Cancer Communications
- Cancer Prevention
- Cancer Surveillance
- Gastro-Intestinal
Kethandapatti Chakravarthy Balaji, MD
Professor
Department of Urology, College of Medicine - Jacksonville
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Kidney
- Prostate Cancer
Thomas Bannister, PHD
Research Professor
Scripps Biomedical Research, College of Medicine
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Angiogenesis
- Chemotherapy
- Drug Design
- Drug Resistance
- Epigenetics
- Lymphoma
- Metastasis
- Neuro-Oncology
- Virology/Virus-Host Interactions
Tarik K Benidir, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Urology, College of Medicine
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Cancer Genetics
- Genital-Urinary
- Prostate Cancer
- Surgical Oncology
Judit Bertran, DVM,MS
Assistant Professor
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Biostatistics
- Bone & Soft Tissue Sarcomas
- Cancer Genetics
- Epigenetics
- Genital-Urinary
- Immunotherapy
- Liver
- Metastasis
- Plastic Surgery/Reconstruction
- Prostate Cancer
- Surgical Oncology
- Targeted Cancer Therapy
- Thoracic Oncology
- Vascular Targeting
Laura Bohn, PHD
Professor
Scripps Biomedical Research, College of Medicine
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Anesthesiology/Pain Management
- Cell Signaling Pathways
- Drug Design
- Pain Management
Clifford Russell Bowers, BA,PHD
Professor
Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Program: CTT
Research Interests:
- Bone & Soft Tissue Sarcomas
- Breast
- Imaging