Plans for the Lake Nona area to become a “Medical City” are taking off, as two additional organizations add their A-list names to the list of those relocating or building there. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando’s Cancer Research Institute (CRI) and Nemours Children’s Hospital Orlando both took solid steps towards Lake Nona, following in the footsteps of the Burnham Medical Research Institute, UCF Burnett College of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital.

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando’s Cancer Research Institute (CRI) and the University of Central Florida (UCF) plan to advance cancer research in the region by coming together at UCF’s new Health Sciences campus at Lake Nona.

The agreement with UCF places the CRI on the fifth floor of the new UCF Burnett Biomedical Sciences Building, which is scheduled for completion in 2009. CRI will lease this space for five years while M. D. Anderson – Orlando plans and builds its own research facility which will also be located on UCF grounds.

It is anticipated that UCF and the CRI researchers will develop research collaborations and, when possible, share in the use of core support facilities. The CRI uses basic and translational research to develop new therapies for pancreatic, kidney, head & neck, lung, breast and brain cancers. Discoveries made at CRI could mean more Phase I clinical trials for patients here in Central Florida. Phase I clinical trials are the first step toward Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval, which can often take years.

The institute employs 12 researchers, and Cheryl Baker, Ph.D., director of the CRI, estimates the team could triple with the added space and resources. “This is a big step for the community because the more we invest in research, the sooner we can bring new treatments to cancer patients in Central Florida and across the world,” said Dr. Baker.

“This partnership will be a great asset to our university, and it will help to improve the quality of health care in Central Florida,” said Terry Hickey, UCF’s provost and executive vice president. “Our agreement expands resources for cutting-edge cancer research while also providing students the opportunity for hands-on research learning.”

After a few appeals, several attempts of submitting a Certificate of Need (CON), and much publicity, Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, finally received approval in December to build an integrated pediatric health care system that will be anchored by the Nemours Children’s Hospital Orlando. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) approved Nemours’ CON application in June 2007, which provided the opportunity for Nemours to purchase a 118-acre parcel of land in the Lake Nona area off of Boggy Creek Road. Nemours selected this particular site because it provides the appropriate size, space and location for the non-profit enterprise’s mission while allowing the organizational control necessary to fulfill obligations outlined in the state of Florida’s CON application.

In general, Nemours will focus on providing services for children such as psychology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, immunology, and dermatology. Nemours also hopes to specialize in pediatric transplants. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child.

“The Lake Nona property offered the best value for our mission,” says Jeff Green, Chief Administrative Officer. “As responsible stewards of resources that have been allocated for the care of children, we have an obligation to invest wisely in order to fulfill the clinical, educational, research and advocacy plans for the benefit of the community’s children.”

Article  By Johnny Duncan and Sara Bridget Au