Cancer Research Overview
Finding a cure for cancer starts with medical research that challenges what we know and tests the limits of what’s possible — and this work happens every day through our research initiatives at the AdventHealth Cancer and Research Institutes.
Together, we conduct clinical, translational and investigational research, research in population health and value-based care, and innovation in precision medicine and pharmacogenomics. From investigative research in the lab to clinical trials that offer new hope to patients, we're committed to finding new and better ways to treat cancer, and we invite you to learn more about our progress.
Learn About Cancer Clinical Trials Near You
AdventHealth Research Institute conducts clinical trials across multiple states, bringing innovative research opportunities to communities nationwide. Click the links to discover active clinical trials in your area and learn how you can participate in advancing the future of healthcare.
Curing cancer is our goal. Clinical trials offer you access to the most advanced treatment options, help us find new ways to prevent and detect cancer, and improve our patients’ quality of life.
Pursuing Hope in Clinical Trials and Investigative Research
Through cancer trials, doctors hope to find new ways to improve patients’ cancer treatments and quality of life. Clinical trials provide access to innovative and experimental therapies for patients with solid and circulating tumors, including through the National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). Our centralized clinical research team is comprised of research nurses, data managers, research assistants and regulatory coordinators.
Investigative research, including both “wet” translational and laboratory research and “dry” population health and value-based research, provides the ability to identify, develop and study new innovations in a real health system setting. While cancer care has already made tremendous progress, further innovation and research are necessary to develop and implement the next generation of therapeutics, best practices, disease prevention and targeted treatments for each patient's unique needs.
Areas of Focus
- Brain and Spine Cancers
- Breast Cancer
- Digestive Tract Cancers
- Gynecologic Cancers
- Head, Neck and Skin Cancers
- Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma and Blood Cancers
- Lung and Esophageal Cancers
- Urologic Cancers
Cancer Research News
Our Capabilities
- AdventHealth Clinical Research Unit
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AdventHealth will provide world-class cancer treatment and better access to cancer prevention, education, cancer screenings and early phase clinical trials at our Celebration campus.
We have established a state-of-the-art clinical research facility to provide innovative treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. We will conduct early phase clinical trials to develop new drugs at this Phase 1 site in Central Florida, allowing patients to receive critical treatments closer to home.
Patients across Central Florida will gain access to:
- Personalized medicine to understand and tailor cancer treatments to their unique needs
- Phase I research trials to investigate and test new cancer drugs at AdventHealth Celebration
- Outstanding cancer care in the state of Florida
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Center
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The specially trained team at the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Center has successfully performed more than 1,000 blood and marrow transplants while providing therapy and treatment for a variety of blood-related cancers and diseases. The BMT Center is a member of the National Marrow Donor Program and certified by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy for meeting stringent volume and standard of care requirements. Our team participates in collaborative research across the country and around the world to bring innovative treatments to patients.
- Brain and Spine Center
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Neuro-oncology is a specialty of neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists and neurosurgeons that focus on the diagnosis and management of primary malignant/low-grade brain cancer and spinal tumors in adult and pediatric patients, other cancers that have traveled to the brain or spinal region, and treatment-related complications affecting the central or peripheral nervous system. The neuro-oncology program is certified in Gamma Knife® radiosurgery and is at the forefront of innovative treatments and clinical trials.
- Breast Cancer Center
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Our advancements in diagnosis and treatment options, including minimally invasive breast cancer surgery and advanced imaging techniques, have won awards from some of the most noted cancer care organizations.
AdventHealth’s multidisciplinary and comprehensive breast cancer approach care allows patients access to a team of specialists at the Breast Cancer Clinic at our Altamonte Springs and Orlando locations. The specialty team includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and breast cancer surgeons working together to develop targeted treatment plans and evaluate clinical trial options for patients based on their type of breast cancer and their individual needs.
- Cellular Therapy Laboratory Center
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Our Cellular Therapy Laboratory Center provides hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and other hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cell types derived from a variety of sources for hematopoietic reconstitution and novel cellular therapies, including CAR T-cell.
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Center
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Our team is made up of the country’s leading experts who are focused on treating the entire scope of benign and malignant GI tumors — including anal, colon, liver, rectal, stomach, pancreatic and GIST tumors — with an individualized, comprehensive approach.
- Genitourinary Cancer Center
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AdventHealth’s outstanding urology team in Central Florida makes this area a premier destination for the diagnosis and treatment of all types of urological disorders, including complex conditions like cancers of the bladder, kidney, adrenal glands, prostate, penis and testicles.
From surgery to chemotherapy and revolutionary technology, like our MRI-guided HDR brachytherapy, your options range far and wide. And we’d be honored to help you choose.
- Gynecologic Cancer Center
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Ranked among the top oncology programs nationwide, our gynecologic cancer team is recognized nationally for excellence in clinical research, minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery and training. Clinical research studies target cervical, fallopian tube, ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancers.
AdventHealth Cancer Institute is the only location in Florida to offer clinical trials using an innovative, immunotherapeutic oncolytic vaccinia virus for ovarian cancer.
- Head, Neck and Skin Cancer Center
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AdventHealth has one of the largest groups of leading otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat surgeons) in Central Florida. Collaboration between our surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and other specialists is what makes us one of the country’s top-ranked oncology programs.
- Lung and Esophageal Cancer Center
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Our thoracic oncology specialists provide a comprehensive approach to the treatment and management of cancers of the lung and esophagus as well as lung nodules, mesothelioma and thymoma.
Personalized cancer treatment and clinical trials require a thorough understanding of cancer tissue genetics and the targeted therapies for identified genetic changes. Clinical trials also focus on new drug combinations.
- Data Management Core
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Our fully dedicated data management team has a strong working knowledge and skillset in clinical research data management principles and practices.
- Investigational Drug Services (IDS) Research Pharmacy Core
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The pharmacists and technicians in our Investigational Drug Services (IDS) Research Pharmacy Core provide accountability, handling, storage and control of investigational drugs and assure compliance with the standards of the FDA and of the study sponsors for inpatient and outpatient studies. We have two sites where drugs can be shipped: Celebration and Orlando.
- Navigation Core
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This is a time for you and your family to focus on healing — not all the logistics that go along with cancer care. Clinical research care navigators (available at select locations) are here to help you schedule appointments, connect with your medical team and assist you with everything from financial questions to family conversations.
Then there’s our integrated wellness network, with spas, social workers and support groups all equipped to provide the care you need. We don't just fight your cancer with breakthrough science, clinical trials and advanced diagnostics and treatments; we fight it by supporting your courage, helping you stay optimistic and spiritually uplifting you at every step. When you're our patient, you’ll never be alone on your journey toward healing.
Our Services
- Biopsy Services
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Services include:
- Fresh or archived tissue availability
- Ability to send blocks (instead of slides); if needed, slides can also be sent by site
- Utilize CT-guided biopsy for tissue collection for research
- Optional biopsies (for research only) are feasible, providing sponsor agrees to budget requested and tumor is accessible by CT
- Cardiology Services
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Services include:
- EKG: Dedicated 12-lead EKG with the ability to do own EKG with PI oversight; alternatively, if the sponsor has their own machine they prefer us to use, we are more than capable of utilizing it
- The EKG machine is tagged and inspected by our AdventHealth Biomedical Department
- Infusion Services
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Services include:
- Drugs can be shipped to Celebration or Orlando sites
- Hospital-based outpatient infusion: 80 chairs in Orlando, 28 chairs in Celebration
- Hospital-based (chemo-certified) infusion room nurses administer the investigational product; the research nurses do not administer the investigational product, they create the study orders which are customized per protocol and signed by physician investigator
- ARNP/PA cannot sign investigational orders
- Crash carts available with CODE access via 911 to hospitals (onsite at both Celebration and Orlando)
- Freezers and refrigerators available
- All equipment tagged and inspected every six months by AdventHealth Biomedical Department
- Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)
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Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) for breast cancer patients reduces damage done to healthy tissues and decreases, or eliminates, the number of post-surgery radiation treatments.
- Gamma Knife® Radiosurgery
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For brain and spine cancer patients, Gamma Knife® radiosurgery allows our experts to remove tumors without affecting the surrounding healthy tissue. Our patients have experienced lower risks of side effects, faster recovery times and better outcomes.
- Laboratory Services
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Services include:
- Ability to collect and process labs; phlebotomist and research assistants onsite to coordinate processing
- Labs are all marked clinically significant/non-significant by investigators
- HIV test at screening can be done if required by study; AdventHealth has its own HIV consent form that is signed by all patients on study
- MRI
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Guided HDR brachytherapy for prostate cancer patients is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that limits your exposure to radiation through more targeted radiation therapy.
- Radiology Services
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Services include:
- Access to dedicated radiologist reads and dictates the report per RECIST criteria outlined in protocol; experience with iRECIST
- Access to GE Lightspeed RT 16 for CT scans: slices are 5mm for abd/pelvis and 3.75mm for chest, and the MRI machine used is GE Excite Echospeed 8 channel 1.5 Tesla
- Access to outpatient CT scanner: Siemens, Somatom up 11101943 P81B, Software Version: VA10ASP
- Tumor measurements provided by radiology report are transferred to worksheet, reviewed by physician investigator and PI reviews/signs off on worksheet
- Robotic Prostatectomy
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Robotic prostatectomy for prostate cancer patients is a procedure where our oncology surgeons guide a highly precise surgical tool to operate on delicate organs for better outcomes and minimal side effects.