Florida Statutes § 381.853

“Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research under the public health law”

The Florida Legislature intends to establish a coordinated effort among the state’s public and private universities, hospitals, and biomedical industry to discover brain tumor cures and develop brain tumor treatment modalities. The Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida must develop and maintain a brain tumor registry that is an automated, electronic, and centralized database of individuals with brain tumors. The Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research is established within the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida. The Center is responsible for fostering brain cancer research. Funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature for peer-reviewed brain tumor research must be awarded using a competitive grant process developed by the Center. The Center must hold an annual brain tumor biomedical technology summit in the state to which scientists conducting basic peer-reviewed scientific research from the state's public and private universities, teaching hospitals, and for-profit and nonprofit institutions are invited to share biomedical research findings in order to expedite the discovery of cures. The center must encourage clinical trials in the state on research that holds the promise of curing brain tumors.

The Center is responsible for submitting an annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the State Surgeon General that contains recommendations for legislative changes necessary to foster a positive climate for the pursuit of brain tumor research and the development of treatment modalities in the state. The Center must be funded through private, state, and federal sources. A scientific advisory council is established within the Center that includes biomedical researchers, physicians, clinicians, and representatives from public and private universities and hospitals.