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UWF professor receives grant to improve cancer survivorship care across Florida
Unrue will lead a statewide program helping breast and prostate cancer survivors improve long-term health outcomes.
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Bhavana P - Mon, 22, Jun 2026
- 16:23 EDT
- 39
Karishma Chhabria Unrue / University of West Florida
Karishma Chhabria Unrue, assistant professor of public health at the University of West Florida (UWF), has secured nearly $825,000 in funding through the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund to lead a statewide initiative aimed at improving the health and quality of life of breast and prostate cancer survivors.
The award is among the largest externally funded research grants received by an assistant professor within UWF’s Usha Kundu, MD College of Health and will support innovative survivorship care programs across Florida.
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The funding will support “Move & Nourish Florida,” a statewide lifestyle intervention program designed to help cancer survivors address long-term health challenges through improved nutrition, physical activity and stress management.
Although advances in cancer screening and treatment have significantly increased survival rates, many breast and prostate cancer survivors continue to experience physical and emotional difficulties. Survivors are also at greater risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, which can affect overall well-being and increase healthcare needs.
The Move & Nourish Florida program will provide participants with personalized guidance from healthcare professionals on healthy eating, exercise and stress-reduction strategies. The initiative aims to offer practical and sustainable tools that survivors can integrate into their daily lives.
The project brings together experts from multiple disciplines, including public health, movement sciences, social work, nursing and medical laboratory sciences. Researchers from UWF’s Computational Statistics and Data Analytics Lab, along with community partners such as Health and Hope Clinic, Community Health NorthWest Florida and the Florida Department of Health, will also contribute to the effort.
“This funding allows us to translate research into action by working directly with cancer survivors and the communities that support them. Our goal is to develop evidence-based approaches that improve health outcomes and can ultimately be implemented across Florida," Unrue said.
The initiative builds on the work of the Integrated Mental Health and Population Analytics for Clinical Translation (IMPACT) Lab, which Chhabria Unrue founded and directs. In addition to supporting cancer survivors, the project will create research and training opportunities for UWF students and generate evidence to improve long-term survivorship care across the state.
The Florida Cancer Innovation Fund was established by the Florida Legislature in 2024 to support innovative cancer research and treatment models.
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