More than 200 researchers converged to collaborate on cancer research.

As every year since its inception in 2014, the Florida Academic Cancer Center Alliance (FACCA) celebrated its annual research retreat on Jan. 18-19, 2022. As with the 2021 retreat, this year it was also held virtually. The mission of FACCA is to expedite innovation in the area of cancer research throughout the State of Florida and maximize state investments in biomedical technology and research

The 2022 two-day event brought together almost 200 researchers from the three member institutions: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and the University of Florida Health Cancer Center. Topics of discussion included the newest updates on cancer and aging, cancer care delivery, metabolism, tumor immunology & immunotherapy, and virus & Cancer (HPV and HIV).

Remarks highlighting the benefit of collaboration in advancing cancer care were given by Stephen Nimer, M.D., director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Oscar de la Renta endowed chair in cancer research and executive dean for research, Miller School of Medicine; John Cleveland, Ph.D., executive vice president, center director and chief scientific officer at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute; and Jonathan Licht, M.D., UF Health Cancer Center director and the Marshall E. Rinker senior chair.