TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded Dr. Gerold Bepler, program leader for thoracic oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center ( http://www.moffitt.org ), and his team a Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant in lung cancer. The grant totals $10,475,090 over five years. This is Moffitt’s first SPORE grant, which puts them in the company of other leading cancer centers like University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Mayo Clinic.
“This grant acknowledges the continued translational work done by the entire lung team at Moffitt, which has been recognized nationally and internationally,” Bepler said. “Our entire team is extremely honored to be recognized by a panel of national lung cancer experts at the level of the NCI. It will provide us the opportunity to continue and significantly enhance our efforts to contribute to the prevention and cure of lung cancer.”
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women. Florida is second behind California in the number of new lung cancer cases per year.
For more information on the Lung Cancer SPOREs program, visit the NCI website: http://spores.nci.nih.gov/current/lung/lung.html
About H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is the only Florida-based cancer center with the NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center for its excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
CONTACT: Michelle Foley, +1-813-745-1505, Michelle.Foley@moffitt.org, or
Joseph Gallina, +1-813-387-0510, JGallina@fhbnet.com
Web site: http://www.moffitt.org/