Brain Tumor Treatment at UF Health

At the Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at the University of Florida, we provide patients with access to one of the most advanced, comprehensive brain tumor treatment programs in the country for both children and adults. Brain tumors can’t wait. Next-Day & Telehealth Appointments Available.

BRAIN TUMORS: FROM BENCH TO BEDSIDE

Receiving a brain tumor diagnosis is immediately life-altering. Connecting with a neuro-oncology team that is not only leading the country in adult and pediatric research and clinical trials on brain tumors, but is also applying those findings to treat their patients every day is crucial for a patient’s journey. Thousands of patients across over 40 states and multiple countries have turned to and trusted the Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at the University of Florida for their care.

Learn more about the brain tumor program

Why the mission to find a cure for brain tumors is so important to our team

Established with the goal of curing brain cancer, the Wells Brain Tumor Center at UF is the hub for the brightest minds in the fields of neuro-oncology, neurosurgery and radiation oncology. With a team of over 100, nation-leading researchers and their teams are collaborating daily with physicians who have dedicated their entire careers to finding a cure for brain cancer. The Wells Brain Tumor Center at UF utilizes innovative treatments such as immunotherapy and personalized medicine based on a patient’s individual genomic sequencing as well as multimodal therapies to treat a patient’s specific diagnosis.

WHY UF HEALTH?

Patients from 40 states & 3 countries

Our patients have traveled from around the world for our leading-edge programs, clinical trials, personalized treatment plans and quality of life and survivorship programs for both adult and pediatric brain tumor patients.

100+ physicians, researchers, scientists and staff

Our team at the Wells Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at UF includes experts in several specialties, including specialty surgical care, radiation therapy, laser ablation therapy, neuro-oncology care, genetic testing and precision medicine.

Over $10 million a year invested in research funding

From immunotherapy to chemotherapy, optune therapy and unique clinical trials, we are leading the country in searching for a cure for brain tumors.

Treatment Options

At the Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, you will find one of the most comprehensive brain tumor research and treatment programs in the country. When it comes to treatment options, we have the most advanced options available. During your initial appointment, you and your family will meet with a brain tumor specialist who will have a detailed discussion with you about treatment options. They will discuss the benefits and risks with you and your loved ones. When you decide to go forward with treatment, any necessary procedures are scheduled immediately. Your case may be presented at our weekly tumor board meetings, and several members of the treatment team will review in detail to formulate the most personalized treatment plan for additional therapy.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT)

Led by Maryam Rahman, MD, MS, UF Health is in the top 3 programs in the country for the number of LITT cases performed using the Neuroblate® system, a tool in the fight against malignant brain tumors that can help destroy tumors and lesions in many locations in the brain, while protecting healthy surrounding tissue as much as possible.

Radiosurgery

Since 1988, the radiosurgery team at UF Health has used the UF-patented radiosurgery system to treat more than 5,000 patients. The system, developed at the University of Florida by William A. Friedman, MD, and Frank J. Bova, PhD, has been put into use at hundreds of medical centers around the world.

Immunotherapy

Duane Mitchell, MD, PhD, his team at UF and his collaborators have developed several approaches to the immunologic treatment of pediatric and adult malignant brain tumors. His team has considerable clinical and translational research experience, with several clinical trial options.

Chemotherapy

The adult medical neuro-oncology team at the Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy is led by Ashley Ghiaseddin, MD. He is nationally known for his research with precision medicine for patients with malignant brain tumors, such as glioblastoma.

Convenient Appointment Options

Brain TUmors Can't Wait

Next-Day & Telehealth Appointments

Finding experts in brain tumor care an be difficult. That's why we are happy to offer next-day appointments and telehealth appointments. We collaborate with local physicians and perform remote reviews of imaging.

telemedicine brain tumor

Patient Success Story

“I’m here, and it’s been over a decade. My husband and I, we’ve actually traveled the world,” Marissa said. “I get to see my son graduate. I can see my daughter get married. There aren’t any words for the gratitude I have for UF Health.

Marissa Valencia was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in 2010. Now over a decade later, she is still cancer-free because of the care she received and continues to recieve from her UF Health neurosurgeons. Considering the average life expectancy of glioblastoma patients who undergo treatment is 12 to 15 months and only four months for those who do not receive treatment, the fact that Marissa continues to defeat it 11 years after her diagnosis is an inspiration and also a testament to the leading-edge care Marissa has received from UF Health. Read her story here.

Marissa Valencia, middle left, and her husband Freddy, middle right, are shown, along with their daughter Emily and son Roman. Flanking them are Marissa’s father, far left, and her mother, far right.

Access to Leading-Edge ClinicAL Trials

As an academic health center, UF Health offers investigative brain tumor clinical trials not available elsewhere, such as multiple first-in-human trials. Additionally, the UF Health-led ReMission Alliance partners with 12 leading academic institutions from across the U.S. and Canada to develop novel treatments to vastly improve quality of life and long-term survival for patients fighting malignant brain tumors. We are also the only program in Florida and one of only 15 hospitals in the country a part of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium. We have clinical trial partnerships with the Florida State-Funded Biorepository & Pilot Awards Program, the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

Through our in-house trials and our multiple clinical trial partnerships, patients have access to more brain cancer clinical trials than any other hospital in the southeast. During your initial appointment, you will meet with a brain tumor specialist who will have a detailed discussion with you and your loved ones about your treatment options, including the benefits and risks, to help you make the decision that is right for you.

When you decide to move forward with treatment, our staff will immediately schedule appointments for any necessary tests and procedures. Your case may be presented at our weekly tumor board meetings, where our team will review your case in detail to formulate a personalized treatment plan for additional therapy.

Our Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Experts

Pediatric Support Services

UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida is the state’s premier children’s inpatient health center, providing innovative and comprehensive care for children at the highest standards of quality and service, in partnership with their families, health care teams and communities.

Our multidisciplinary team offers children and families the emotional, physical, and spiritual support they need through the help of our social workers and child life specilaists. It’s through teamwork at every level of our organization and with you, the family, that we are able to achieve a high level of excellence in pediatric care

OUR LOCATION: UF Health NEUROSURGERY – NEUROMEDICINE HOSPITAL

Gainesville, FL – Adults & Pediatrics

A Leader in Florida for Neuro-Oncology Care

With our clinic, imaging and ORs all under one roof, our hospital in Gainesville is able to offer the most advanced treatment options available for brain tumor treatment , including minimally invasive surgery.

Neurosurgery Neuromedicine Hospital

UF Health Proton Therapy Institute

Proton Therapy Pioneers

An additional treatment option for some brain cancer patients, especially pediatrics is proton therapy. The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is the first and leading proton therapy facility in the Southeast. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, our expert physicians have treated more than 10,000 patients and over 20 cancer types, helping patients around the world achieve excellent success and quality of life.

UF Health proton Therapy Institute

UF Health Brain Tumor team Featured on ESPN

During The V Foundation for Cancer Research’s “V Week,” ESPN and ABC aired videos highlighting UF Health’s efforts to fight brain cancer.

These touching and impactful videos included UF Health pediatric neuro-oncology patient Mikah Phillips and his parents Debbie and Justin; longtime University of Florida brain tumor research supporter Paul Hale; pediatric neurosurgeon Jason Blatt, MDWilliam Friedman, MD, and Duane Mitchell, MD, PhD, co-directors of UF’s Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy; and several other team members.

Footage was captured at the Phillips family’s home, UF’s Adam Michael Rosen Neuro-Oncology Laboratories and the UF Health Neuromedicine Hospital.

Watch below to learn about UF Health’s collaboration with The V Foundation.