On Jul. 29, 2019, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center announced it had achieved National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, becoming South Florida’s only NCI-designated cancer center. The 1,300 page application submitted a year earlier was completed by a team of Sylvester physicians, researchers and staff, led by Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D.

NCI recognizes U.S. centers that meet rigorous standards for transdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research focused on developing new and better approaches to preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer.

In the six years of preparation to apply for NCI designation, Sylvester’s team, led by Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., focused on specific areas to meet NCI’s high standards. Among those was changing the Cancer Center’s basic science and clinical research culture from one where researchers worked in silos to putting the emphasis on collaboration. Sylvester recruited some of today’s best and brightest researchers, clinicians, and educators, who continue to present important research findings at the major national meetings. And Sylvester focused on expanding its educational reach, including teaching and training oncologists throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Sylvester’s potential impact, commitment to excellence, collaborative culture, and expertise stood out to NCI. A key element for NCI designation is a center’s level of grant funding. Sylvester’s research programs have received a growing level of support from competitive federal and state grants, research contracts, and philanthropic contributions.

Based on Sylvester’s research strengths and the unique population diversity of its South Florida community, the Cancer Center’s team highlighted three areas in which Sylvester can apply its expertise and share that knowledge with NCI colleagues across the country.