The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. (“Moffitt”), located in Tampa, Florida, began operations in 1986. As an academic and research medical center, Moffitt is a National Cancer Institute-designated oncology research institute in Florida and one of the Southeast's leading cancer centers. Comprised of two inpatient facilities, an ambulatory outpatient surgery center, ambulatory clinics, a cancer screening facility and research laboratories, Moffitt offers a sophisticated network of services and technologies that assure the citizens of its region convenient, cost-effective, high quality health care. Moffitt’s workforce is currently comprised of a diverse and robust group of individuals ranging from full-time and part-time employees, medical residents, volunteers, students, and interns, all engaging in varying scopes and projects across the institution. Moffitt strives to address catchment areas by promoting innovative research, outreach, and education across the cancer continuum. Education and research are a fundamental part of Moffit’s core mission. The cancer center thus provides numerous education and research opportunities to groups and individual ranging from health care professionals to post-doctoral students. Additionally, Moffitt boasts several clinical partnerships throughout Florida, which include the Memorial Healthcare System in South Florida, and Morton Plant Hospital’s Radiation Oncology Department in Pinellas County. As a leader in cancer treatment, Moffitt is one of the few cancer hospitals in the world with specialists in evolutionary biology and mathematical oncology, cancer biology, computer science, and informatics working collaboratively to anticipate a tumor’s path and harness the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Moffitt’s multidisciplinary research programs consist of integrated teams working collaboratively to confront the complexity of cancer. The five programs are enumerated below: Cancer Biology and Evolution, which focuses on the investigation and defining of the complex dynamics that govern biology and therapeutic responses of cancer, to deliver new agents and strategies to prevent and treat refractory or relapsed malignancies. Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine, which integrates chemical biology and systems biology technologies to develop new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer. Health Outcomes and Behavior, which contributes to the prevention, detection, and control of cancer through the study of health-related behaviors, health care practices, and health-related quality of life. Immunology, which applies basic research findings to the treatment of human malignancies to develop and deliver advanced clinical immunotherapies that benefit cancer patients. The goal is achieved through close integration of basic, translational, and clinical researchers to discover basic mechanisms and rapidly translate them from the bench to the bedside. Cancer Epidemiology, which contributes to reducing cases of cancer through research to identify risk factors across the cancer continuum comprising etiology, progression, and outcome, and the translation of that knowledge into successful prevention and early detection interventions.
