$47M grant to boost cancer treatment research at Moffitt in Land O' Lakes

Moffitt Cancer Center in Land O' Lakes will receive a $47 million federal grant to support five projects focused on radiopharmaceutical cancer treatment, WUSF reported. The funding involves collaboration between Moffitt, the University of South Florida, Embarc Collective, and Pasco-Hernando State College at the Speros life sciences campus.

The initiative, called the Florida Oncology and Radiopharmaceutical Growth Engine (FORGE), aims to establish a regional network for producing medical isotopes, manufacturing cancer therapies, developing biotech companies, and training workers. Radiopharmaceuticals use radioactive isotopes to target specific cells, aiding in tumor imaging and delivering radiation directly to cancer cells.

The coalition estimates that when fully operational, the effort could support about 4,000 jobs across the Tampa Bay area, including 1,100 at the Speros campus, and generate $2.6 billion in regional earnings between 2026 and 2037. The projects represent an estimated $88.2 million investment with matching contributions from partners.

Two major projects include expanding research and manufacturing capacity at Speros. Moffitt will receive $16.9 million to construct the core and shell of a 130,000-square-foot radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility, according to the news release.

The grant was awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration through its fiscal 2025 Disaster Supplemental-Industry Transformation program, highlighting federal support for domestic medical manufacturing and cancer treatment innovation in the Tampa Bay region.