By: Lourdes Mederos, 954-577-6363 (O), 954-242-8439 (M); rodriguezl@ufl.edu  

Highlights There are 66 Florida mosquito control districts that suppress mosquito species populations by using integrated mosquito control methods. A survey of the Sunshine State’s mosquito control districts has shed light on a variety of species that are understudied. This has created a gap of knowledge for devising effective control strategies.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — Florida’s sunny climate serves as an ideal place for a variety of mosquito species to make their homes throughout the year. While some mosquitoes can be a nuisance by simply biting humans and wildlife, other mosquitoes can spread harmful viruses like dengue, West Nile, Zika and parasites like malaria.

From conducting species outbreak surveillance that track the numbers and types of mosquitoes in an area to developing methods that eliminate larvae and adult mosquitoes, Florida’s 66 mosquito control districts work on a local level. Each district aims to establish mosquito control methods based on the species that are detected as a priority in the immediate area they serve.

In a newly published paper, Mosquito Control Priorities in Florida – Survey Results from Florida Mosquito Control Districts, scientists at the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (UF/IFAS FMEL) shed light on the variety of understudied mosquito species throughout the state that are the focus of Florida’s mosquito control districts. The survey serves as real-time reference of the multitude of species priorities set and control methods conducted in communities across the state. In the battle against the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses, scientists see this as a key takeaway. The survey reveals a knowledge gap and a need for districts to align mosquito-control strategies.

“This survey is a snapshot of the current mosquito control priorities and practices for Florida mosquito control districts that will serve as an important record of reference for comparison of mosquito control priorities and activities across regions,” said Yoosook Lee, an assistant professor of molecular ecology at UF/IFAS FMEL.

The data show each district’s priority species for control, particularly those that are largely understudied compared to well-known disease vectors such as Aedes aegypti.

“We find it likely that other regions, particularly those with a similar ecological setting and diversity of mosquito species throughout Florida, might face similar issues of understudied species as control priorities,” Lee said. “Comparing priorities and approaches between regions may illuminate differences in mosquito control decision-making and yield insight into intervention efficacy, and behavioral, phenotypic or genetic differences of mosquito populations between regions.”

During fall 2020, scientists at UF/IFAS FMEL initiated the survey across Florida’s mosquito control districts to collect baseline data on the current control priorities relating to priority control species, common adult and larval control methods and major research questions that will improve their control and surveillance programs.

The survey data showed that 17 mosquito species were considered priority control targets, with many of these species being understudied. The most common control approaches included truck-mounted ultra-low-volume adulticides and biopesticide-based larvicides. 

Among other key survey takeaways:

  • Some species like Culiseta melanura is an important vector of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). This is a rare-but-deadly disease, with Florida as one of the top three states for EEE  cases during the last decade. Due to severity of this rare disease, scientists target this species as deserving more attention by both research and control professional communities.
  • More work on basic science questions are needed to devise more effective surveillance and control strategies.
  • Findings highlight a need for alignment of research priorities between mosquito control districts and mosquito research.

“We note a need for greater alignment of research priorities between mosquito control and mosquito research needs to prioritize filling knowledge gaps relating to understudied mosquito species that have been implicated in arbovirus transmission,” said Lee. “We hope this is the beginning of the dialog with Florida mosquito control communities and in our interest to building stronger relationship with them to guide vital research and contribute to better public health outcomes for Floridians.”

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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS



August 11, 2021- Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center recently announced its 2nd quarter employee and Physician of the Quarter awards. 

Physician of the Quarter was Dr. Baquir Syed who serves as the current Chief of Staff for the hospital.  Dr. Syed has been practicing medicine for over 40 years.  Members of the hospital laud Dr. Syed as a great doctor with a wonderful bedside manner, and incredible rapport with patients, to go along with a terrific sense of humor.   

L to R:  David Steinberg, Echo Sonographer, Dr. Baqir Syed, Chief of Staff PBGMC

The Employee of the Quarter was David Steinberg who is an echo sonographer.  Steinberg always lends a helping hand, and goes above beyond for all patients at the hospital.  Steinberg always makes sure patients are treated with the respect, & kindness they deserve, and is considered the ultimate team player.

We congratulate both of these winners for their dedication, and hard work as they provide the very best care to the patients in our community. 



August 11,  2021 – St. Mary’s Medical Center earns The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for the Advanced Stroke Certification.

Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“This certification recognizes the amazing job our neurosciences team does provding high quality care and treatment, for those coming to our hospital for a stroke,” said Cynthia McCauley, chief executive officer for St. Mary’s Medical Center & Palm Beach Children’s Hospital. “I want to commend our comprensive stroke center staff for the dedication and hard work they put in to earn this recognition, and more importantly, saving lives in our community.”

“We congratulate St. Mary’s Medical Center for this outstanding achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”

Our comprehensive stroke center is equipped with some of the latest diagnostic and therapeutic advances to quicky and accurately diagnose and treat stroke patients.  Patients at our center benefit from a range of comprehensive medical, surgical and minimally invasive treatment options, as well as access to clinical trial and research.

The multidisciplinary team of physicians and specialists who are part of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at St. Mary’s includes emergency medicine physicians, neurohospitalists, vascular neurosurgeons, interventional neurologists, intensivisits, rehabilitation specialists and nurses with neuro training.  

For more information on St. Mary’s Medical Center, go to www.stmarysmc.com or call 561-844-6300.

About St. Mary’s Medical Center

St. Mary’s Medical Center is a 460-bed acute care hospital located at 901 45th Street in West Palm Beach. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of the greater West Palm Beach area for more than 80 years. St. Mary’s Medical Center offers a broad array of adult and pediatric services, including: a Level 1 Trauma Center, a state-designated Pediatric Trauma Referral Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center and a state-designated Brain and Spinal Cord Acute Injury Center. Additional services include the Neuroscience Center, High-Risk Obstetrical Unit with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, the Rehabilitation Institute, the Memory Disorder Center, Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center, Schwartz Dialysis Center and the Institute for Mental Health.  Pediatric services are provided at the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center, which is the only dedicated children’s hospital between Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. Along with 24/7 dedicated pediatric emergency and trauma care, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital’s medical staff consists of 196 pediatricians in 36 subspecialties. These include limb reconstruction and lengthening at the Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute, pediatric oncology program, which includes membership in the Children’s Oncology Group – a clinical trials group supported by the National Cancer Institute, and pediatric orthopedics. In addition, in-house pediatric intensivists work with area pediatricians to care for children while staying at Palm Beach Children’s Hospital.  St. Mary’s Medical Center is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency, and is a member of the Children’s Hospital Association. The hospital has won many prestigious awards, including the Tenet Circle of Excellence award.  To learn more about St. Mary’s Medical Center and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, visit www.stmarysmc.com, www.palmbeachchildrens.com or call 561-844-6300.



Life Science Leaders Unite To Advance the Industry in Florida

August 11, 2021 – BioFlorida has announced five new board members who will support the organization’s effort to grow the life sciences industry in Florida.

“The life sciences industry in Florida is vibrant, and we’re excited to welcome Thomas Equels of AIM ImmunoTech, Mark Friedman, PhD of Axogen, Geoff Green of Longeveron, Adam Grossman of ADMA Biologics, and Joe Sardano of Sensus Healthcare,” said Nancy Bryan, President and CEO of BioFlorida. “Our new board members are leaders in their fields with a passion to unite with our diverse Board of Directors representing the various sectors and regions in Florida with a collective goal to advance the impressive, diverse life sciences ecosystem.”

Today, the life sciences industry in the state represents 6,700 establishments and research organizations in biopharmaceuticals, medical technology, healthIT and bioagriculture that collectively employ nearly 94,000 Floridians.

“BioFlorida provides Florida’s life sciences industry with a venue to collaborate to address global health challenges,” said Rob Herzog, Chair of the BioFlorida Board and Vice President of Research and Operations at AdventHealth. “I look forward to working with our new board members to continue to build Florida as a life sciences destination.”

The new board members began their two-year term on January 1, 2021. The five new board members are:

• Thomas K. Equels, CEO, AIM ImmunoTech (Ocala): Mr. Equels has served as the CEO of AIM ImmunoTech since February 2016, after serving as President since 2015. Mr. Equels’ successful legal career included extensive experience in the pharmaceutical sector. He also has served as a court-appointed receiver turning around businesses in several different fields. Mr. Equels received his JD with high honors from Florida State University. He is a summa cum laude graduate with a BS and an MS from Troy University. Mr. Equels is also a highly decorated combat aviator, twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and 15 Air Medals, including three for extraordinary valor. In 2012, he was knighted by Pope Benedict as a knight of the Papal States. Mr. Equels received the BioFlorida Weaver H. Gaines Entrepreneur of the Year for 2020.
• Mark L. Friedman, PhD, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs & Policy, Axogen, Inc. (Alachua): Dr. Friedman joined Axogen in September 2006, and has served as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance for Axogen since November 2011 and Axogen Corporation since June 2011, and previously served as Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs from for Axogen Corporation. Prior to joining Axogen, Dr. Friedman held several regulatory and quality leadership positions at Enable Medical Corporation, a medical device company, including Director of Quality Assurance and Vice President of Quality and Regulatory. Dr. Friedman also worked for AtriCure, Inc., a company that develops, manufactures and sells surgical ablation systems to treat atrial fibrillation, as Vice President of Quality and Regulatory and as Vice President of Operations. AtriCure acquired Enable Medical in 2005. Dr. Friedman has over 30 years of experience in developing and directing regulatory strategy and quality systems for medical products, including 15 years with startup medical product firms. Dr. Friedman has a PhD in Chemistry specializing in protein biochemistry from the University of Cincinnati.
• Geoff Green, CEO, Longeveron, Inc. (Miami): Mr. Green has been with Longeveron (NASDAQ: LGVN) since 2016, and is a veteran of the life sciences and drug development industry. A versatile executive with a career spanning 25 years in both public and private companies, Mr. Green has held a variety of leadership roles throughout his time in the industry. Prior to joining Longeveron, he was VP of Operations at Partikula; VP, Business Development & Clinical Affairs at Accu-Break Pharmaceuticals; President and Acting CEO of DOR BioPharma [now Soligenix (NASDAQ: SNGX)]; VP of Business Development & Operations at Heart Genomics; and Director of Clinical Affairs at Innovative Drug Delivery Systems. Early in his career he spent several years managing oncology clinical trials at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and as a research associate at Paramount Capital, where Mr. Green managed clinical trials for several portfolio companies. Mr. Green received a BA in biology from Kenyon College, and an MBA from Barry University’s Andreas School of Business.
• Adam S. Grossman, President & CEO, ADMA Biologics (Boca Raton): Mr. Grossman is a leader in the biopharmaceutical industry and has been the driving force behind ADMA Biologics’ mission since its inception to develop and bring to market novel plasma derived products to address certain unmet medical needs for immune compromised patients. Mr. Grossman has over 25 years of experience in the blood and plasma products industry, which includes experience in launching new products, building and managing national and international sales forces, managing, and designing clinical trials as well as developing strategies and executing solutions to resolve complex quality assurance, biologics and pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulatory affairs issues. Additionally, he has negotiated and completed multiple business development and merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Grossman is a member of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association North American Board and has been a member of the ADMA Biologics Board of Directors since 2007, has served as its President and CEO since October 2011, and was the President and COO between 2007 and October 2011. Mr. Grossman is a graduate of American University, receiving a BS in Business Administration, with a specialization in International Business and Marketing.
• Joe Sardano, CEO, Chairman & Founder, Sensus Healthcare (Boca Raton): With over 35 years of management experience with such companies as CTI Molecular Imaging, GE Healthcare, Siemens Medical Systems, Elscint Inc., and Toshiba America Medical Systems, Mr. Sardano is a respected and recognized leader in the healthcare industry. He has been responsible for introducing and commercializing many new technologies and services, including PET and PET/CT, SPECT, MRI, Lithotripsy, Digital Radiography and Electronic Brachytherapy. Mr. Sardano established and led national and international sales and marketing organizations demonstrating consistent overachievement while driving customer centricity and market share. He has led several M&A initiatives from both the “seller” and “buyer” sides while establishing the processes for the integration of multi-faceted organizations and establishing their structures and “go to market” strategies. He currently is the President/CEO of Sensus Healthcare, a Medical Device company addressing the therapeutic treatments of NMSC and Keloid scars. He has been involved with many philanthropic organizations raising millions of dollars for Heart and Cancer research. Joe is originally from Montreal Canada where he graduated from Concordia University. He also attended McGill University, School of Management.

“Our new BioFlorida board members bring invaluable expertise to BioFlorida’s mission of progressing product and technological innovation that improves the lives and health of Floridians,” said Rob Finizio, Vice Chair of the BioFlorida Board and CEO, Co-Founder and Director of TherapeuticsMD. “I look forward to how BioFlorida’s board relationships expand employment in Florida’s life science industry and overall nourish the economic interests of the state. I’m also looking forward to working closely with Rob Herzog as I make the transition to Board Chair of the BioFlorida Board of Directors in January 2022.”

The new BioFlorida board members join 31 current board members including: Mario Carranza (Nemours Children’s Health System), David Day (DDay Ventures), Rob Herzog (AdventHealth), Emily Gresham (Florida International University), Norma Sue Kenyon (University of Miami), Valerie McDevitt (AdventHealth), Karen Moore (Moore), Adam Hunter (Cherry Bekaert), Jim O’Connell (University of Florida), Jarett Rieger (Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute), Raquel Rodriguez (Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC), Svetlana Shtrom (University of Central Florida), David Smith (Akron Biotech), Holly Bates Snow (Amgen), Mark Strong (LifeLink), Sue Washer (AGTC), Julie Watson Lampley (Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.), David Conrad (University of South Florida), Charles Bruce (Mayo Clinic), Nancy Bryan (BioFlorida), Douglas Calder (Vycellix), Les Croland (Legal Counsel), Brian Dorn (Arthrex), Antonio J. Ferreira (Johnson & Johnson), Robert Finizio (TherapeuticsMD), Glenn Ladwig (Saliwanchik, Lloyd & Eisenschenk), Gregory Nelson (Fox Rothschild), Michael Paredes (Genentech), Steve Parkinson (Lakewood-Amedex), Juan Toro (Medtronic), and Juan Carlos Varela (Globant).

About BioFlorida
BioFlorida is the voice of Florida’s life science industry, representing 6,700 establishments and research organizations in the biopharmaceutical, medical technology, and bioagriculture sectors that collectively employ 94,000 Floridians. BioFlorida’s member driven initiatives provide a strong business climate for the advancement of innovative products and technology that improve lives and promote economic benefits to the state.



Five-year, $3.95 million NIH grant supports efforts to understand the mechanisms that drive liver metastasis.

Researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of Florida Health Cancer Center received a five-year, $3.95 million NIH grant to study how uveal melanoma spreads to the liver. This work was previously supported by two Florida State Team Science Awards, which provided early-stage funding to help the team progress to the larger NIH grant.

J. William Harbour, MD

“There are two mutated proteins, Gaq and BAP1, that play a major role in uveal melanoma progression and metastasis to the liver,” said J. William Harbour, M.D., Dr. Mark Daily endowed professor of Ophthalmology, vice chair for translational research and director of Ocular Oncology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and associate director for basic science at Sylvester Cancer Center, who leads the Sylvester arm of the study. “How these mechanisms drive liver metastasis has never been comprehensively studied.”

Uveal melanoma affects the melanocytes (pigment cells) in the eye and is the most common adult eye cancer. Like most tumors, UM becomes increasingly deadly as it spreads to other organs, and for some reason, it especially focuses on the liver.

The scientific team, which includes Keiran Smalley, Ph.D., professor and Director of the Melanoma and Skin Cancers Center of Excellence at Moffitt Cancer Center and Jonathan Licht, M.D., director of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, wants to understand how Gaq and BAP1 mutations pave the way for liver metastasis.

“Typically, people get a Gaq mutation first, but most of the time, the body gets rid of those proliferating cells and people end up with a nevus or a mole,” Dr. Harbour said. “But sometimes these cancers break through the body’s security measures, and one of those ways is through BAP1 mutations. We want to understand why these two mutations go together in uveal melanoma, because they really don’t pair up very often in other cancers.”

The researchers believe the body may be preventing significant tumors by forcing Gaq-mutated cells into senescence – essentially, putting them to sleep. BAP1 mutations may reverse that program, allowing Gaq mutants to wake up, proliferate and invade other tissues. However, nobody has fully investigated the specifics of this process.

Another important issue is why UM metastasizes so often to the liver. BAP1 may be implicated here as well. BAP1 mutations may influence a type of liver tissue called stellate cells, generating a protective niche for UM cells to nest, avoid immune cell surveillance and propagate into the liver.

“There may be common signaling pathways in the eye and the liver,” Dr. Harbour said. “These uveal melanoma cells could find a parallel environment in liver tissue that allows them to survive.”

The final step will be identifying molecules that can arrest liver metastasis. The team is looking at two epigenetic proteins that may be sensitive to BAP1 degradation (HDAC1 and HDAC4), adversely influencing gene expression in stellate cells. HDAC inhibitors may be a promising option to stop UM liver metastasis.

“We may be able to reverse the effects of BAP1loss in the liver, disrupt this stellate cell niche and improve survival,” Dr. Harbour said.