Sylvester’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative (FCI) celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of researching and developing safety regimens to decrease cancer among those in fire service. Since its initiation in Miami, the group’s work has extended to virtually every county in Florida, improving the safety and health of thousands of firefighters.
Firefighters contract certain cancers at up to twice the rate of the general population, and mesothelioma is their leading cause of line-of-duty death. For a decade, FCI’s multidisciplinary team has engaged in nationally recognized work to change this. The team has:
- Conducted rigorous, peer-reviewed cancer studies (many suggested by firefighters themselves)
- Administered an annual firefighter cancer survey
- Developed prevention and survivorship programs
- Carried out environmental sampling
- Invented and applied new monitoring technologies
This work has been firefighter-driven, a crucial reason for its success, said Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., M.P.H., the initiative’s director. “We have the scientific and clinical expertise, and firefighters have the day-to-day occupational expertise,” she explained. “We needed to incorporate their perspectives and insights into what we do. That partnership is saving lives.”
Leading with Purpose
Dr. Kobetz and her team are recognized as international leaders in firefighter cancer research. They have collaborated with the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to create a national firefighter cancer registry and partnered with the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal’s office to improve safety protocols statewide and distribute thousands of decontamination kits to fire departments.
“Firefighters risk their lives every day to protect our communities. Our commitment at Sylvester is to advance research and education that can help protect these everyday heroes from the health risks they face.”
Where the World Convenes
During 2025, Sylvester hosted the annual International Fire Service Cancer Symposium, where more than 750 participants from around the world shared research and best practices for cancer prevention and early detection in the fire service.
Sylvester’s FCI has been a key component of the symposium since it began, and 2025 was no exception. Participating researchers included both of Sylvester FCI’s deputy directors: Alberto Caban-Martinez, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H., and Natasha Schaefer Solle, Ph.D., RN. Dr. Caban-Martinez led a panel that presented research on the emerging dangers of electric vehicle fires. Dr. Solle led a panel that shared research findings on occupational exposures, mental health considerations and innovative implementation approaches to improve overall firefighter well-being.
The Work Continues
Sylvester FCI researchers received renewed funding from the state of Florida to continue working closely with firefighters to better understand their cancer risks and impacts, and to identify novel, evidence-based methods to reduce those risks.
“In the next decade, we will push even further, leveraging innovation, expanding our reach to all fire service occupational subgroups, and ensuring that every firefighter has access to the prevention strategies and early detection tools they need to reduce cancer risk,” said Dr. Caban-Martinez.
