Moffitt Cancer Center Advocates for Cancer Care and Research in Washington
Key takeaways:
- Moffitt Cancer Center leaders met with lawmakers to discuss cancer research, treatment, prevention and access
- Researchers showcased nutrition studies, multidisciplinary care and innovations aimed at detecting and treating cancer earlier
- Moffitt partners with seven rural Northwest Florida hospitals to extend cancer expertise through virtual tumor boards and digital pathology
Moffitt Cancer Center leaders, physicians and researchers traveled to Capitol Hill to collaborate with congressional delegates on advancing cancer prevention, treatment and research.
The group shared updates on cutting-edge treatments and innovations underway at Moffitt, highlighting how these efforts are making a meaningful difference for patients.
Moffitt executives met with members of Congress from Florida and across the country to strengthen relationships with key decisionmakers. They also discussed the important role federal policies play in supporting patients and ensuring sustainable access to healthcare.
The Role of Nutrition
Among the highlights of the visit was a cooking demonstration that featured groundbreaking research into nutrition and other evidence-based approaches related to cancer prevention and care.
Members of Moffitt’s Population Engagement and Research Laboratory (PEARL) presented Mediterranean-inspired dishes featuring whole, unprocessed ingredients at the Rayburn House Office Building.
The team developed carefully designed dishes as one way to explore the connection between nutrition and cancer, recognizing that nutrition plays an important role across the cancer continuum, from prevention and treatment to survivorship.
Conversations with lawmakers also provided an opportunity to highlight advances in Moffitt’s BioEngineering program, the impact of multidisciplinary care, work to detect cancer earlier and expand access to treatment, as well as efforts to bring care to rural communities across Florida.
Moffitt is leveraging virtual tumor boards and digital pathology to extend specialized cancer diagnostic expertise to rural communities through the Rural Health Transformation Grant, serving as a specialty partner to seven rural hospitals in Northwest Florida.
Impact of Federal Partnership
More than 600,000 people in the U.S. die from cancer each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Therefore, efforts to prevent and treat the disease and improve outcomes for patients remain critical.
Conversations with members of Congress underscored the important role federal lawmakers have played and continue to play in supporting Moffitt’s mission to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Engagement with lawmakers also helps emphasize the importance of continued support for cancer research, innovation and patient care.
Moffitt has become a resource for members of Congress in Florida and beyond and will continue engaging with federal partners to help inform national policy discussions and advance its mission for patients.
“We’re honored to work alongside federal partners who share our commitment to advancing cancer research and ensuring patients have access to innovative care,” said Jamie Wilson, Moffitt’s vice president of Government Relations.
That’s a wrap on #MoffittDCFlyIn. ✈️
— Moffitt Cancer Center (@MoffittNews) September 16, 2026
From policy meetings to bringing the PEARL Research Kitchen to Capitol Hill, our @MoffittNews delegation highlighted the role nutrition, prevention and research can play in improving cancer outcomes.
We’re grateful to the congressional… pic.twitter.com/dypMv5q3gc
