Florida: Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis Highlight Fully-Funded Cancer Research and Treatment Funding
The Floridant/10311726

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ~ Jacksonville, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis have announced Florida's continued commitment to cancer research, care, and innovation. At a press conference held at the Borowy Family Tower at Wolfson Children's Hospital, the Governor revealed that the state has allocated $218 million for cancer-related initiatives this fiscal year, bringing the total investment in cancer research and treatment to $1.1 billion since 2019.

In his statement, Governor DeSantis expressed his pride in securing funding for the various cancer initiatives championed by First Lady Casey DeSantis. These include the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, and the Cancer Connect Collaborative Incubator. He emphasized Florida's dedication to being a national leader in cancer treatment and care.

The announcement highlighted three key initiatives that are fully funded and driving Florida's cancer strategy. The first is the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, which has been allocated $127.5 million this year. This program aims to improve the quality and competitiveness of cancer care across Florida by providing direct funding to four National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated hospitals and institutions: Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, UF Shands Hospital in Gainesville, and UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami.

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Originally established by the Florida Legislature in 2014, the program was renamed in 2022 to honor First Lady Casey DeSantis' courageous battle with cancer and her leadership in expanding collaboration statewide through Cancer Connect.

First Lady Casey DeSantis also spoke about the importance of these initiatives for those battling cancer in Florida. She stated that beating cancer requires innovative approaches, data sharing, and a team effort to make research and treatment breakthroughs accessible to all who need them.

State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A Ladapo also shared his thoughts on these investments, emphasizing how they will help families in Florida who are facing the devastating effects of cancer. He praised Governor and First Lady DeSantis for their leadership and vision in prioritizing these initiatives, which will empower four leading children's specialty hospitals in Florida to advance innovative treatment options.

The second initiative highlighted was the Cancer Connect Collaborative, a first-of-its-kind national model designed to accelerate research, share best practices, and turn data into actionable results. This initiative brings together public and private partners under five pillars: Data, Best Practices, Innovation, Honesty, and Funding. The Governor announced that the Cancer Connect Collaborative Incubator is now fully funded with $30 million for its first five-year cycle. This incubator will focus on pediatric cancer, which accounts for just 1% of cases nationally but impacts thousands of children and families.

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Four major children's hospitals in Florida - Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, and Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville - will be eligible for multi-year grants to expand clinical trials, improve treatment protocols, and accelerate cures.

Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris also expressed her support for these initiatives, stating that they are investments that will bring together the best minds in science, medicine, and healthcare to accelerate innovation in pediatric cancer treatment. She hopes that this is just the beginning of reimagining how we fight pediatric cancer and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to support families every step of the way.

The third initiative highlighted was the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund created in 2023 to support smaller start-up entities focused on cutting-edge research and treatment. After a successful first year, the Legislature has approved a full $60 million for this fiscal year.

For more information about Florida's cancer research initiatives, visit flcancerconnect.com. With these significant investments and collaborations between public and private partners, Florida is determined to continue leading the way in cancer research and care.

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