MIAMI, FLORIDA – Sept, 16, 2024 – Five years after being awarded the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has earned it again. In July, Sylvester, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, renewed its status as an NCI-designated cancer center, achieving an “Outstanding” score from the NCI.
Only 72 cancer centers nationwide have received the NCI designation, conferred for scientific leadership in laboratory and clinical research and commitment to training scientists and health care professionals. This places Sylvester in the top 4% of all cancer centers in the nation. The NCI also recognizes efforts to tailor research studies to the problems facing local communities with programs that have state and nationwide potential.
“Our cancer center’s achievement of an outstanding score for the NCI renewal demonstrates the unwavering commitment and dedication of our entire organization,” said Joseph James Echevarria, CEO and acting president of the University of Miami and CEO of UHealth. “I am incredibly proud of our team’s relentless pursuit of excellence and the profound impact Sylvester has had and will continue to have on cancer research and patient care.”
In a state with the second-highest cancer burden in the U.S., the renewal affirms Sylvester’s commitment to continue pursuing cancer cures and cements Sylvester’s role as the only designated cancer center in South Florida offering clinical trials solely available at NCI-designated cancer centers.
“We have built something of great value for our community,” said Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., who has led Sylvester since 2012. “We have been transforming cancer care in South Florida through teamwork, excellence and discoveries; harnessing advances in precision medicine, breakthrough science such as immunotherapy, translational research, integration of cutting-edge technologies, and compassionate, patient-centric care and survivorship programs that save lives, provide hope and ease the burden of cancer.”
“The NCI grant underscores our cancer center’s ability to deliver top-tier clinical care and innovative treatments to our patients,” said Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chief operating officer of the University of Miami Health System. “This funding is crucial in our ongoing mission to have excellent patient outcomes and provide hope to cancer patients.”
“The renewal of our NCI grant bolsters our cancer center’s research and treatment capabilities and enhances the learning opportunities for our medical students and residents,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School. “This grant ensures that our future health care professionals will be at the forefront of cancer care, equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a great impact in cancer research.”
The center’s proximity to the Caribbean and Latin America and its highly diverse catchment area makes it unique among NCI-designated centers, said Dr. Nimer. This enables multiple studies on the social determinants of health and cancer incidence and treatment, extending internationally with collaborations across the hemisphere and the globe. Sylvester’s research also focuses on cancers with an elevated prevalence and mortality in South Florida, including hematologic cancers, hormone-related cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, and infection-associated cancers, including cervical and head and neck cancers, liver cancer and stomach cancer.
“Our NCI grant empowers Sylvester to continue serving the community with the most advanced research and compassionate care,” said Jayne S. Malfitano, chair of Sylvester’s Board of Governors, president of the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation and daughter of the center’s namesake. “Since its inception, Sylvester has been committed to making a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families.”
Looking Ahead
Sylvester now has 10 clinical satellite locations throughout Florida, three more than in 2019, augmenting its outreach to medically underserved communities. In addition, it also opened a Naples care coordination and support services office on the West Coast of Florida. In the next year, UHealth and Sylvester will open two major clinical satellites: UHealth Doral and UHealth SoLé Mia.
“Sylvester’s scientific contributions not only directly serve the needs of its community but also impact cancer care across the country and the globe by changing practice, influencing policy and shifting research paradigms,” said Dr. Nimer.
In 2029, Sylvester will again need to renew its NCI designation; thus, over the next five years, the center will continue to focus on its strategic goals to meet and exceed NCI requirements and continue to make major contributions to the nation’s work against cancer.
Sylvester will continue to build infrastructure to support cutting-edge research (e.g., a new proteomics facility) and to promote teamwork and the co-localization of scientists conducting research in related areas, said Dr. Nimer. The Griffin Cancer Research Building is a big part of that effort and will double the center’s research footprint.
“These efforts will be catalytic for us and elevate the impact of our medical research. They also send a message across our country about how serious we are about finding new ways to cure and prevent cancer,” said Dr. Nimer.
Read more on the InventUM blog and follow @SylvesterCancer on X for the latest news on its research and care.