Moffitt Cancer Center Thoracic Oncology Department Chair Scott Antonia, MD, PhD, received an Infrastructure Grant Florida’s James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program. The grant will help fund Moffitt’s comprehensive lung screening program. Earlier this year the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force approved guidelines recommending low-dose CT scans annually for older smokers. The grant will provide funding in the amount of $1,600,000 over a 3-year period.
The award will be carried out under the direction of a Community Advisory Committee and 10 Moffitt staff members. Research will focus on radiomics, proteogenomics, epidemiology and smoking cessation. It will also help to provide a more comprehensive blood and plasma data bank for future research.
Moffitt offers a comprehensive lung cancer screening program, which includes assessment of lung CT scans by a team of multispecialty medical experts. Insurance coverage for screenings varies. For plans that do not cover the screening, the scan will cost $150. ■
