First Lady Casey DeSantis Announces Florida Cancer Innovation Fund Project, Treats First Patient in the Florida Panhandle
By Space Coast Daily // February 12, 2026
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that Cancer CARE (Connected Access and Remote Expertise) Beyond Walls™ has successfully treated its first patient, marking a milestone for a pilot clinical trial expanding access to cancer care in the Florida Panhandle and surrounding areas.
Funded by the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund and led by the Mayo Clinic in Florida, the project received a grant during Fiscal Year 2024–25 to expand access to high-quality cancer care for patients who may be unable to travel for treatment.
Through digital technology and remote patient monitoring, eligible patients can receive portions of their cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, from the comfort of their own homes.
“With more than one billion dollars invested since Governor DeSantis took office, Florida has defined itself as an international leader in cancer research, care and innovation,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “This project is yet another example of that leadership. Seeking solutions that facilitate world-class cancer care, in the comfort of a patient’s home, is a game changer for Florida families. I applaud Mayo Clinic yet again for their commitment to helping Floridians not only beat cancer, but thrive after a diagnosis.”
Cancer CARE Beyond Walls builds upon Mayo Clinic’s Advanced Care at Home capabilities, which replicate hospital-level care in a patient’s home. The program launched in April 2023 with 10 patients. Since then, Mayo Clinic in Florida has safely delivered more than 1,000 in-home chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy infusions or injections. With over $1.8 million in funding received from the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, Mayo Clinic has expanded the program into the Florida Panhandle, allowing patients who previously would have needed to travel several hours for treatment to receive care closer to home.
“Cancer CARE Beyond Walls is focused on removing barriers to care and delivering high-quality cancer treatment to patients in their homes,” said Roxana Dronca, M.D., site director of the Mayo Clinic in Florida Comprehensive Cancer Center, principal investigator of the study, and director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Care Beyond Walls. “We are grateful for the support of the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, which enables us to expand access to world-class cancer care, reduce the burden of travel, and enhance the patient experience for individuals across the Florida Panhandle.”
The Florida Panhandle clinical trial opened on December 18, 2025. The first patient was consented on December 22, and the first in-home cancer treatment was delivered on January 9, 2026.
To date, four of the planned 27 patients have been consented, with two actively receiving in-home therapy and three treatments delivered safely.
