At Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, our mission is singular: curing cancer.
This commitment drives every physician, researcher, nurse, technician, therapist, patient advocate and team member in our center. As the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in South Florida, we stand at the forefront of cancer research and treatment. We are one of only 72 cancer centers in the U.S. to receive this designation, placing us in the top 4% of all cancer centers.
What this means:
We are proud to be an NCI-designated cancer center. This prestigious designation is the highest recognition from the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. government's premier agency for cancer research and training.
The designation signifies we meet the highest standards for research, translating scientific breakthroughs into life-saving therapies—right here in South Florida. It also unlocks substantial federal funding, empowering our doctors and researchers to expand their work and collaborate with other top-tier NCI-designated centers.
At Sylvester, you're not just receiving care; you're gaining access to the future of cancer treatment from teams of physician-scientists working to transform the meaning of a cancer diagnosis.
More Cancer Experts Locally Means Better Care for You
Our NCI designation solidifies our national reputation and positions us to attract additional research funding, resulting in the recruitment of leading physicians and scientists. This brings more expertise directly to you, right here in South Florida.
Expanded Access to Leading-Edge Clinical Trials
Our patients gain access to novel therapies without leaving the area. As part of the prestigious NCI network, we offer access to a wider range of clinical trials, including those for the toughest-to-treat cancers.
At Sylvester, we have the only academic phase 1 clinical trials program in South Florida for children and adults with cancer. This program provides access to new investigational treatments at the earliest stages of evaluation, offering hope to patients with toughest-to-treat cancers and future patients who may benefit from the advancements made today.
Eligible patients at Sylvester can participate in trials organized by the NCI’s National Clinical Trials Network, granting them access to large-scale, multi-center trials conducted across the nation. These trials involve diverse patient populations, accelerating the transition of promising research from the lab to real-world treatments.
NCI Reaffirms Sylvester as South Florida’s Only NCI-Designated Cancer Center
Five years after being awarded this prestigious designation, we have earned it again, achieving an “Outstanding” score. The NCI recognized us for our scientific leadership and research studies, as well as our commitment to training and community service.
Some of the public health programs that helped propel us to NCI designation include our Firefighter Cancer Initiative, a long-term study of exposures to carcinogens and ways to reduce and prevent cancer risks for Florida firefighters. Our Game Changer vehicles help address health disparities in medically underserved communities experiencing higher-than-expected cancer incidence and mortality rates.
Through our work, we are changing standards of care by participating in and leading clinical research studies. Our efforts supported the approval of multiple drugs, including Pralsetinib, a targeted therapy for lung cancer, in 2020.
In 2021, we were named the first World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Cervical Cancer Elimination for its diligent efforts to address cervical cancer.
Currently, we are leading or co-leading large grant awards, including more than $13 million in 2021 for two major studies examining disparities among Hispanic cancer patients; $9.5 million in 2022 to investigate esophageal adenocarcinoma; $7 million in 2022 to research the effects of exercise and nutrition on ovarian cancer outcomes; and $5 million in 2022 to study using advanced imaging to improve radiation therapy for glioblastoma patients.
We have also spearheaded the $7.5 million National Human Genome Research Institute’s (NHGRI’s) Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) program, a comprehensive effort in 2023 to understand the function of every human gene.
We are driven to help reduce the cancer burden for all.
South Florida is renowned as the Gateway to the Americas, and as the nearest NCI-designated cancer center to Latin America and the Caribbean, we are uniquely positioned to extend our advanced research and care to even more people. Our global impact is already evident, with patients from more than 80 countries seeking our world-class care.
Achieving and maintaining NCI designation is no small feat. Since 2012, Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., the director of Sylvester, has led this ongoing effort with passion and dedication alongside our center’s esteemed faculty and staff. Our collective work continues, driven by a singular goal: finding a cure for every patient.