JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis held a news conference Wednesday morning at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville to highlight the funding for the state’s initiatives to accelerate cancer research, improve treatment protocols, and expand care for pediatric patients in underserved areas.
During the news conference, the governor and the first lady discussed the more than $800 million the state has spent on cancer research and treatment since 2019.
They also discussed the Cancer Connect Collaborative Incubator - which got $30 million in funding. They said for the first few years of that program, it will focus on pediatric cancer.
Casey DeSantis, a cancer survivor herself, explained why that effort is so critical.
“I hope people realize just how special this is, how Florida continues to lead on behalf of the people who want hope, who want to benefit,” Casey DeSantis said. “The state of Florida is investing and ensuring that they have good outcomes and good treatments and good procedures and all of that.”
Casey DeSantis emphasized the importance of strengthening Florida’s hospital systems to better support families facing pediatric cancer.
“You already have four great hospital systems,” she said. “But now you’ll be able to incentivize them… to invest even more in care, research, and innovation.”
The governor highlighted the long-term impact of the investment, saying it’s about more than medical upgrades— it’s about giving families confidence.
“We want them to know that they’ve got the best options here in the state of Florida, and not have to fly halfway across the country to get care for their son or daughter,” DeSantis said.
Visibly emotional, Casey DeSantis reflected on her personal cancer journey and why this work has become so important to her.
“Cancer... I couldn’t even say that word for a while,” she admitted. “I wanted to stick myself in a closet and never talk about it. But if I have the opportunity to use a hellish experience, I went through to benefit the people of this state, then I’m just honored to be able to do it.”
With continued investment and a strong emphasis on innovation, state leaders say the goal is clear: make Florida a national leader in cancer care, and more importantly, a source of hope for families navigating the unimaginable.