Breakthroughs begin here: Research excellence at the UF College of Medicine in 2025

Jan. 29, 2026 — In 2025, the University of Florida College of Medicine advanced bold, patient-focused research that is transforming care and shaping the future of medicine. Through strategic investment, collaboration and innovation, UF researchers delivered discoveries with immediate clinical relevance while laying the foundation for breakthroughs still to come.

“In 2025, we invested boldly in the future of medicine — expanding our research capacity, recruiting exceptional talent and pursuing ideas with transformative potential,” said Senior Associate Dean for Research Azra Bihoac, M.D., M.S. “That commitment of time and resources is already accelerating discovery and redefining what’s possible for patients. Our faculty, staff, learners and supporters fuel this momentum. The breakthroughs of the past year are just the beginning, and the year ahead will bring even more innovation, impact and hope.”

Part of an integrated academic health center comprising six health colleges and 10 centers and institutes, researchers at the UF College of Medicine have access to the expertise, tools and resources that move the needle on medical breakthroughs — everywhere from cancer and neurological diseases to aging, gene therapy, emerging pathogens and women’s health. The college builds meaningful collaborations across campus to spark innovation and bring lifesaving discoveries to people around the world.

This progress was powerfully illustrated in May, when UF Health celebrated its 100th gene therapy infusion — a milestone that reflects decades of leadership in translational science and a growing national role in delivering next-generation therapies to patients.

Read more about several other research advances from the college over the last year below.

In 2025, cancer research at the UF College of Medicine marked a historic moment, positioning UF at the forefront of immunotherapy innovation. In a landmark study, collaborators at UF and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas demonstrated that an mRNA vaccine can dramatically boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer by awakening the immune response broadly and making tumors more responsive to treatment. This finding could lay the foundation for a universal cancer vaccine.

Alongside this flagship discovery, UF scientists advanced other key areas of cancer research, including the identification of novel cancer-killing compounds and investigations into how nutrition and diet influence cancer risk and patient support. From efforts to improve care during treatment to exploring connections between diet and lung cancer, UF’s cancer research portfolio reflects a holistic, patient-centered commitment to improving both survival and quality of life.

From children to adults, UF researchers advanced diabetes research that directly improves patient outcomes. Faculty experts helped shape international clinical guidelines for pediatric Type 1 diabetes, influencing care far beyond UF Health.

Additional research demonstrated how clinician education improves diabetes outcomes, identified previously hidden blood mutations tied to obesity, diabetes and liver disease, and informed new recommendations for liver screening in patients with Type 2 diabetes —work with the potential to prevent serious complications through earlier intervention.

The UF College of Medicine continued to lead at the intersection of neuromedicine and artificial intelligence. Researchers identified a new genetic mutation associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk, offering insight into disease development and potential future therapies.

AI-powered innovation also enabled a groundbreaking 3D map of the brain and improved diagnostic accuracy for Parkinson’s disease, demonstrating how advanced technology is accelerating discovery and enhancing clinical decision-making.

UF researchers continued to focus on improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations in 2025, from advancing the MOMitor app, designed to support maternal health and identify pregnancy-related risks, to developing AI tools to improve breastfeeding outcomes in the NICU.

Researchers also moved closer to the first treatment for a significant pregnancy-related risk, underscoring the college’s commitment to protecting mothers and infants through every stage of care.

UF Health was also recognized as the sixth Center of Excellence in Complex Endometriosis Care in the world, as designated by the Surgical Review Corporation, while experts in the UF Health Endometriosis Program leveraged AI to develop a preoperative endometriosis prediction model for faster patient diagnosis and treatment.

In addition to core disease-focused discoveries, UF scientists made strides in areas that improve everyday health outcomes. Studies linked timing and consistency of physical activity to better overall fitness, suggesting simple lifestyle strategies could have measurable health benefits. Other work identified potential treatments for lost sense of smell and proposed advanced AI models to predict mortality in coronary artery disease patients, reflecting a broad commitment to enhancing both longevity and daily quality of life for patients.