09/02/2026
Congratulations Dr. Mitchell!!
The University of Florida has selected Duane A. Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., as the next director of the UF Health Cancer Institute, a national leader in cancer research and treatment.
Mitchell, the Phyllis Kottler Friedman Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, assumes the role Sept. 21 at a pivotal moment for the institute, which earned National Cancer Institute designation in 2023 and has experienced significant growth in recent years, with over $57 million in total cancer grants.
“Dr. Mitchell is an exceptional scientific leader whose career reflects the very best of the University of Florida’s commitment to discovery, innovation and patient impact,” said David Norton, UF’s vice president for research. “His ability to bring together researchers, clinicians and partners across disciplines has helped transform cancer research at UF. He is uniquely positioned to lead the UF Health Cancer Institute as it builds on its recent successes and pursues even greater national prominence.”
An M.D.-Ph.D.-trained physician-scientist, Mitchell has built an international reputation for pioneering immunotherapy approaches that harness the body’s immune system to combat cancer, particularly malignant brain tumors such as glioblastoma. His work has advanced novel cancer vaccines and other immunotherapies from laboratory discovery to human clinical trials, earning national recognition and offering new hope for patients facing some of the most aggressive forms of cancer.
Read the full story: https://go.ufl.edu/hfmu7qh
