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cancer research news
UF Health Shands Hospital ranked best in Florida, among nation’s elite in wide range of specialties
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals has ranked our cancer program as 33rd in the nation, a nine spot jump from the 2019-20 U.S. News survey. The ranking is a testament to the commitment to care we bring to our patients every day.
“I’m very gratified that the U.S. News survey has recognized how the UF Health Cancer Center has increased its impact though expansion of clinical services, enhanced clinical trials offerings with an emphasis on refractory tumors and a signature program on brain tumors, and augmented community engagement and community-oriented research,” said Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., director of the UF Health Cancer Center. READ MORE
University of Florida named coordinating center for national drug abuse surveillance system
Three Cancer Center members are a part of the coordinating center team: Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., Catherine Striley, Ph.D., M.S.W., and Sara Jo Nixon, Ph.D.
The University of Florida will lead nationwide efforts to identify emerging drug abuse trends as the coordinating center for the National Drug Early Warning System, or NDEWS. The surveillance network is critical for monitoring the ongoing opioid crisis and identifying new public health threats, such as the rise in new psychoactive substances. READ MORE
Culturally Appropriate Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Messages
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Associate Professor and UF Health Cancer Center Member Dr. Carla L. Fisher and a team of researchers at George Mason University received funding from the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences and National Cancer Institute to identify ways to tailor breast cancer risk messages to mothers and daughters. They worked with “mommy bloggers” to disseminate an evidence-informed infographic about lifestyle changes mothers and daughters can do together to reduce the environmental risk of breast cancer. READ MORE
For UF researchers, pausing and resuming work has brought major challenges, sparked innovation
In recent weeks, researchers have begun returning to campus in a gradual and deliberate manner. Everyone has been tested for the coronavirus under UF’s Screen, Test & Protect program. UF has entered Stage 3 of its four-stage Research Resumption Plan. Stage 3 emphasizes physical distancing, face covering and continuing a steady return to scientific activity while gradually increasing the occupancy limits in labs and offices. Some labs have implemented staggered work shifts to keep occupancy low. READ MORE
The HERO Initiative
The Healthcare Worker Exposure and Outcomes, or HERO, initiative has two parts — a registry and a clinical trial. The registry, which comes out of Duke University, hopes to enroll hundreds of thousands of health care workers nationally who are at risk of developing the COVID-19 infection. Registry members will then be eligible for a clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine’s effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 infection in health care workers, called the HERO-HCQ trial. READ MORE
Announcements
UF Health's Post — August Issue Now Online
A widow and her late husband both donated kidneys to the same man, 16 years apart. Read Terri and Jeff’s story and other exciting news from around UF Health in this month’s POST. READ MORE
Gainesville Hope Lodge closing after 34 years
A message from Ed Jimenez, UF Health CEO
The American Cancer Society, or ACS, has made the very difficult decision to close the Gainesville Hope Lodge. The lodge, which suspended operations in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will cease operations today.
The lodge is one of the oldest in the country — opening in 1986 — and has helped countless cancer patients and their families over the years. However, demand for rooms has declined significantly in the last few years and in 2019, almost half of the rooms were unoccupied on most nights.
Annual operating expenses and needed repairs and updates to the aging building have made the lodge too costly to operate. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has created severe financial challenges for ACS — donations are at 20-30% of normal levels.
Moving forward, ACS staff will continue to work with our faculty and staff to help meet the lodging needs of cancer patients who need it most. Other local ACS services including cancer information and transportation will not be affected.
BIOSTATISTICS 101 FOR CANCER RESEARCHERS
About: Biostatistics 101 for Cancer Researchers (BIOS 101) is a free, eight part lecture series introducing basic biostatistical concepts and methods for cancer researchers either new to the subject or looking for a refresher course. Instructed virtually by Ji-Hyun Lee, DrPH, professor and director of the UFHCC Biostatistics and Quantitative Sciences Shared Resources, this course will emphasize reproducibility and replicability of scientific research.
Participants may register for as few or many of the eight offered lectures, however, certificates will only be awarded to those who attend seven or more of the eight and pass the associated assignments. Download the full syllabus here.
Register: Online via Zoom by September 5
When: Every Tuesday, September 8 – October 27, 2020 | 2 – 3 p.m.
Contact: Alexandra Fahnlander | afahnlander@ufl.edu
MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
About: The Molecular Pathology Core (MPC) is open for business! MPC is a comprehensive histology and microscopy facility for paraffin and frozen blocks as well as all aspects of specimen collection, preparation, fixation, processing, staining and analysis.
Services are available to all investigators, and inquiries are always welcome.
Contact: molecular@ufl.edu | 352-273-7749