Background depicting research and education

Innovations in Cancer Care

Florida is leading the way in cancer research for effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Florida Cancer Innovation Fund

Provides funding to support projects that focus on cutting edge cancer research and patient care to florida-based entities, medical professionals, or established institutes serving Floridians.

Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator

Established in 2025, with oversight by the Cancer Connect Collaborative, to provide funding for a targeted area of cancer research over a five-year period..

William G. “Bill” Bankhead, Jr., and David Coley Cancer Research Program

Focusing on cancer and tobacco-related diseases to expand cancer research capacity in Florida, increase research, provide funding, and facilitate the technical coordination.

James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program

Focusing on cancer and tobacco-related diseases to expand the foundation of biomedical knowledge,

Cancer Centers of Excellence

Recognizing providers that exceed service standards and excel in providing quality, comprehensive, and patient-coordinated care.

Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative

Advancing progress toward curing pediatric cancer through grants awarded by a peer-reviewed, competitive process.

Biomedical Research Advisory Council

Assists in the direction of priorities, guidance, funding awards, and oversight.

Florida Cancer Registry

Assists in the direction of priorities, guidance, funding awards, and oversight.

Florida’s Cancer Control Efforts

Florida takes a comprehensive approach in implementing cancer control efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with this disease, guided by:

  1. The 2020-25 Florida Cancer Plan, which includes 21 goals within eight sections addressing collaboration; data; prevention and risk reduction; screening and early detection; diagnosis and treatment; quality of life; survivorship and end of life care; childhood cancers; and research and technology development.
  2. Biomedical Research Advisory Council’s Strategic Research and Goals focuses on health impact of research through the James and Ester King Biomedical Research, Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research and the William G. “Bill” Bankhead, Jr. and David Coley Cancer Research Programs.
  3. Leadership of the state cancer councils of the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council, and the Biomedical Research Advisory Council.
  4. The Florida Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, funded through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and located at the Florida Department of Health, provides coordination support among public and private partners in the state.
  5. Six regional Cancer Control Collaborative strategic plans developed and implemented by cancer stakeholders to address Florida Cancer Plan goals on the local level.                                                       
Florida’s Cancer Plan

 The  Florida Cancer Plan was created by the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council (CCRAB) to provide an overview of the cancer burden in Florida, by population, specific behavioral and preventive measures that may reduce one’s risk of cancer, and early detection techniques by specific cancer sites or classifications. The 2020-2025 Florida Cancer Plan focuses on 21 goals. 

Florida Cancer Councils

The Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council (CCRAB) was established by the Legislature in 1979 to advise the Legislature, Governor, and State Surgeon General on how to reduce the cancer burden in Florida (section 1004.435, Florida Statutes). The council monitors cancer trends, and evaluates and promotes effective interventions to help in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment.

The council is comprised of 15 members: Governor appoints one member, President of the Senate appoints two members, Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints two members, the State Surgeon General or designee, and members from nine specified organizations.  The Council works collaboratively with Florida’s Biomedical Research Advisory Council to formulate and review a statewide research plan, in addition to developing and reviewing a statewide treatment plan. 

Regional Cancer Control Collaboratives

Cancer collaboratives are regional groups of cancer stakeholders who meet on a routine calendar basis and implement cancer control efforts to address the priority strategies of the cancer plan. Each of the Regional Cancer Control Collaboratives coordinates cancer control efforts among public and private partners, in accordance with their specific strategic plan. In addition to a chairperson leading the collaborative efforts, each regional cancer control collaborative has a coordinator to provide management and technical assistance. For information about what the regional collaborative in your area is doing, visit their websites listed below.

To contact your regional cancer collaborative coordinator and become a member, see the Cancer Collaborative Map or the Cancer Networking Opportunities in Florida.

The South East American Indian Work Group was formed in 2011 and aims to build capacity and educate non-federally recognized tribes, clans and bands on cancer prevention.  

The Florida Biomedical Research Advisory Council (BRAC) is an 11-member council that advises the State Surgeon General on the direction and scope of the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program, Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research, and the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program. Four of the BRAC members are appointed by the Governor.