Research
In a diverse, supportive, equitable and inclusive environment, the Tampa Medical & Research District (TMRD) provides data, research, analysis and industry information to our respected academic and healthcare partners, including Tampa General Hospital (TGH), the University of South Florida (USF) Health Morsani College of Medicine, Taneja College of Pharmacy, USF Health Heart Institute, the University of Tampa (U. Tampa) and Moffitt Cancer Center. As a result, our partners can pioneer medical studies and laboratory discoveries that directly translate to new and improved therapies for patients. Additionally, the TMRD engages with entities outside of our partners—such as clinical research organizations and contract development and manufacturing organizations, as well as industry, state and federal organizations—to showcase the incredible work happening in the TMRD, driving more research and investment opportunities to advance this work.
Cultivating this collaborative environment—and consequently, the next great advancements in healthcare and life sciences—allows us to attract top talent and industry to the TMRD. This supports the ecosystem, in turn helping to accelerate partnerships and innovation.
Symbiotic Cooperation
Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation, and it takes a district to provide the type of purposeful interactions that ignite and inspire advancements. As such, the TMRD encourages collaboration among leading academic and healthcare institutions, including TGH, USF Health, U. Tampa and Moffitt. By integrating various fields of expertise, our interdisciplinary teamwork leads to research breakthroughs and sparks the development of innovative treatments, transforming medical science and the quality of health care in Tampa.
Translational Research
While basic research is curiosity-driven, translational research provides a crucial “pivot point” by bringing together various specialists to refine, test and advance the application of a landmark discovery into a clinical application. The vast majority of medical advances are achieved through collaboration, and translational research keeps the conversation flowing, with one research result often inspiring another.
TGH and USF Health represent one of the best partnerships in this collaborative field, jointly running clinical trials and studies, then "translating" basic research findings from sciences like molecular and cell biology into medical treatments, diagnostic tools and preventive measures that can be applied to improve patient care. This partnership is a critical component of the efforts on which every provider within the TMRD is laser focused—to improve coordination of health care providers, biotech companies and industry innovators and accelerate the development of new treatments and interventions.
Advanced Research Studies and Clinical Trials
The TMRD’s partner institutions are continually leading and participating in advanced clinical trials. These important research studies foster the development of novel drugs and therapies, contribute to the global medical knowledge base, provide patients in Tampa with access to the latest treatment options, improve medical outcomes and help future generations lead healthier lives. The TMRD partners have been involved in many of the nearly 8,600 clinical trials performed throughout Florida since 2019, and the diverse patient population in Tampa represents a unique cross-section of American demographics that helps support these clinical trials and the resulting groundbreaking discoveries.
In addition, USF Health’s NIH-funded research has increased 75% over the past decade and the institution was awarded $692 million in research and grants in fiscal year 2023. And at TGH, where research is at the forefront of patient care, more than 200 physician investigators are conducting about 600 interventional clinical trials, focusing on the study of investigational drugs, devices and procedures. Notably, research on organ preservation in rectal cancer patients has transformed how rectal adenocarcinoma is treated and groundbreaking work on Regeneron COVID antibodies allowed for rapid deployment of monoclonal antibody therapies during the pandemic.
Moffitt Cancer Center continues to lead the state in securing funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and is the only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida. Employing more than 150 scientists and physicians who are all dedicated to cancer research, Moffitt led nationwide clinical trials that resulted in the FDA's first approvals of CAR T-cell therapy, a personalized treatment that uses a patient's own immune cells to target specific types of cancer.
In 2023, $5.6 million in expected funds was awarded to USF Health Heart Institute from the U.S. Department of Defense. The funds will support a four-year study to understand why many people with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) often also develop heart disease, a major cause of death for those with FA.
Educational Integration
Backed by academic medicine, the TMRD’s research component is closely linked to medical education, involving students, residents and fellows in key studies. This seamless integration of academics and research fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement, ensuring that future healthcare and life sciences professionals are fully trained in the latest scientific methods and innovations.
Channeled from USF Health, U. Tampa and other area schools, more than 700 residents and fellows walk the halls of Tampa General, and a staggering 96.8% of medical students participate in local research opportunities. While we continue to attract top talent and retain residents and fellows, we also promote growth within our current pool of talent. A dedication to innovation means that everyone has something to learn and that culture is on display in the TMRD.
