It's a New Day in Public Health.
The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator
Biomedical Research Section
The Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator (Incubator) was created in 2025 by the Florida Legislature as part of the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, with oversight by the Cancer Connect Collaborative, to provide funding for a targeted area of cancer research over a five-year period. Per subsection 381.915(12)(a), Florida Statutes, the Incubator’s targeted area of cancer research for the five-year period beginning on July 1, 2025, is pediatric cancer.
Pediatric cancer research funding has been historically lower compared to funding for adult cancer research. Cancer drug and device development continue to lag for pediatric patients and industry-sponsored cancer trials involving children are limited. The Incubator seeks to address these gaps by boosting pediatric cancer research in Florida, focusing attention and funding specifically on pediatric cancer projects that advance treatment options for children battling cancer. By establishing a robust infrastructure for children and adolescents with cancer, this funding opportunity aims to eliminate the need for Florida families to travel out-of-state for experimental therapies and specialized care.
Per s. 381.915(12)(b) and s. 381.915(12)(c), Florida Statutes, any Florida-based specialty hospital, as defined in s. 395.002(28)(a), Florida Statutes, that provides cancer treatment for patients from birth to 18 years of age is eligible to apply. Priority will be given to applicants who focus on enhancing both research and treatment by increasing participation in clinical trials related to pediatric cancer research, including all the following:
- Identifying strategies to increase enrollment in cancer clinical trials.
- Supporting public and private professional education programs to raise awareness and knowledge about cancer clinical trials.
- Providing tools for cancer patients and community-based oncologists to help identify available cancer clinical trials in this state.
- Creating opportunities for the state’s academic cancer centers to collaborate with community-based oncologists in cancer clinical trial networks.
Priority may also be given to proposals that foster collaborations among institutions, researchers, and community practitioners to support the advancement of cures through basic or applied research, including clinical trials involving cancer patients and related networks.
Connect with DOH