Sylvester Cancer Center Launches FL CARES Network Linking Six Florida Institutions via PAC3R Platform

Sylvester Cancer Center leads the new FL CARES Network, using the PAC3R platform to unify statewide research and improve oncology outcomes through shared data.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 10:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

A Unified Front Against Cancer in Florida

The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has spearheaded the creation of the Florida Cancer Research (FL CARES) Network, a strategic alliance designed to modernize the state's approach to oncological studies. This initiative, funded by the Florida Department of Health through the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program, seeks to harmonize the efforts of six distinct research entities. By fostering a collaborative environment, the network aims to move past fragmented institutional studies and toward a unified strategy that can more effectively investigate why cancer impacts diverse populations in markedly different ways across the state.

Technical Backbone of the Statewide Alliance

Central to the network's operations is the Platform for Accelerating Collaborative Computational Cancer Research, known as PAC3R. This sophisticated informatics system was developed by Sylvester to serve as a secure environment for researchers to exchange and analyze vast quantities of medical data. Built on the architecture of the previously established Sylvester Data Portal, PAC3R acts as a digital ecosystem where treatment responses, genetic markers, and potential drug interactions are synthesized. This infrastructure ensures that high-level research is not limited by the technical constraints of individual institutions, providing a standardized toolkit for all participating scientists.

Strategic Integration of Academic and Research Powerhouses

The network functions by linking a prestigious roster of Florida institutions, including the Moffitt Cancer Center, Florida International University, and Nova Southeastern University. The collaboration also draws on the expertise of the University of North Florida, University of Florida Health Cancer Center, and the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. By pooling the intellectual and clinical resources of these organizations, the FL CARES Network creates a combined research footprint that significantly outweighs the capabilities of any single entity, allowing for larger-scale trials and more robust data validation.