University of Florida Researchers Unlock New Frontiers in Brain Tumor Treatments

Researchers at the University of Florida’s are making breakthroughs in the treatment of malignant brain tumors. Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., co-directs the teams conducting this research at the Preston A. Well Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at UF Health. Over the past ten years, the center has received FDA approval on 12 therapeutics and launched 13 novel immunotherapy clinical trials.

Driving this research is a collaborative effort led by UF Health called the ReMission Alliance, which brings together neuro-oncology experts from around the world to achieve transformative improvement in long-term survival within the next decade for patients with malignant brain tumors. Mitchell helps lead the program, which is aimed at finding ways to weaponize the immune system of patients to fight off cancer.

UF’s multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment has bolstered the Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program’s success, allowing FDA-specific therapies to be developed and delivered to patients in clinical trials right on campus. Director of the UF Health Cancer Center, Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., says this collaborative effort is making strides towards new treatments.

“We are extremely proud of bringing together cancer immunologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and medical and pediatric oncologists to attack one of the most devastating cancers known,” said Licht. “The Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program at UF is one of our signature achievements, and we are very proud of the continued progress it is making.” 

Read more: University of Florida Researchers Unlock New Frontiers in Brain Tumor Treatments.