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The UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center is a bold and rapidly growing part of the Lake Nona Medical City landscape, uniquely combining academic research, patient care, and high-tech innovation. While it’s a relatively new addition to the area, its roots trace back to a major moment in Florida’s biomedical history—and its future may be just as influential.
The Cancer Center occupies the former site of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, a renowned research institute that focused on metabolic disease, cancer, and regenerative medicine. In 2019, the University of Central Florida acquired the facility, repurposing it as a major part of its expanding Academic Health Sciences campus. This move symbolized UCF’s transition from a regional public university to a major player in national biomedical research.
The building itself spans approximately 175,000 square feet and was originally designed to house some of the most advanced research laboratories in the country. Today, UCF uses this space to blend basic scientific research with translational and clinical applications, creating a setting where discoveries made at the bench can be tested and implemented in real-world patient care. The Center is home to a growing number of cancer researchers, clinicians, and physician-scientists working on some of the most pressing challenges in oncology.
What sets the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center apart is its focus on precision medicine—an approach to cancer treatment that uses a patient’s genetic profile to develop targeted therapies. The Center’s researchers are engaged in projects that aim to better understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer and to identify biomarkers that can predict how a patient will respond to specific treatments. This work is supported by cutting-edge equipment and a robust data infrastructure that allows for collaboration with national and international institutions.
As part of the UCF College of Medicine, the Cancer Center plays an integral role in the education and training of future physicians and researchers. Students are involved in every stage of the research process, from basic lab work to clinical trial development, and benefit from direct mentorship by faculty with active research portfolios. The Center also offers opportunities for interdisciplinary work with UCF’s Colleges of Nursing, Engineering, and Sciences, further enriching the academic environment.
Since taking over the facility, UCF has continued to expand its capabilities. The university has hired nationally recognized cancer researchers and begun developing clinical oncology services to complement its laboratory research. The goal is to eventually offer a full spectrum of cancer care on-site, from early detection to treatment and survivorship programs. These services will not only benefit local residents but also help position Lake Nona as a destination for cancer care and clinical trials.
Looking forward, the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center is part of a broader plan to grow UCF’s Academic Health Sciences campus into a nationally prominent destination for healthcare research and education. Additional research programs, partnerships, and construction projects are in the pipeline. The university has made clear that it views the Cancer Center as a long-term investment in innovation, scientific discovery, and improved patient outcomes.
In just a few short years, the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center has gone from an idea to a thriving hub of research and learning. With its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and academic mission, it is quickly becoming one of the most important institutions in Central Florida’s medical landscape. For Lake Nona, it represents another major step toward becoming a nationally recognized center for healthcare excellence—and for those affected by cancer, it offers new hope grounded in science and driven by purpose.
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David Myers 407-801-3286
