TAMPA, Fla., and CHARLOTTE, N.C., (Oct. 20, 2025) – CancerX, the pioneering public-private partnership dedicated to accelerating innovation in the fight against cancer, announced a major shift to a new consortium leadership model aimed at broadening support and building a stronger innovation community. The announcement comes ahead of the HLTH Conference, where the organization will spotlight its latest initiatives to unite health systems, pharma, investors and startups.
Under the consortium model, five anchor member organizations will now lead the shaping of the strategy and programming for CancerX. Advocate Health and Moffitt Cancer Center are the founding anchor members of the consortium, and will work together with future members to expand and strengthen this next phase of CancerX and how the consortium will shape meaningful progress in oncology care.
Moffitt Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, has hosted CancerX since its inception two years ago, serving as the founding home and driving force behind its mission to accelerate digital innovation in cancer care. Under Moffitt’s leadership, CancerX has grown into a thriving global community of more than 150 oncology focused organizations, including leading health systems, startups, life sciences companies, technology innovators and advocacy groups. Together, they have launched transformative programs, such as the CancerX Accelerator Program, advanced public-private partnerships and built a collaborative ecosystem committed to reimagining how technology, data and digital tools can improve outcomes and equity in oncology.
“Our goal with this new leadership model is to empower members to shape initiatives that have real impact for cancer care and innovation,” said Xavier Avat, chief business officer at Moffitt. “This multistakeholder consortium will enable different parts of the ecosystem to contribute significantly to shaping the future of digital oncology innovation nationally and globally.”
Advocate Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems, has been a founding member and key accelerator champion of CancerX, serving as a national steering partner since its from the beginning of the initiative. Drawing on its national cancer service line, with 130 locations including a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and innovation ecosystem, Advocate Health has played an integral role in expanding CancerX’s reach and empowering innovators to turn bold ideas into real world impact across the cancer care continuum.
"CancerX has already proven to be invaluable in shaping both the narrative and the reality for oncology innovation,” said Rasu Shrestha, M.D., MBA, member of the CancerX Steering Committee and Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Commercialization Officer at Advocate Health. "As an anchor member of the new CancerX consortium, we’re proud to continue leading this movement that unites health systems, innovators and communities to drive advancements in cancer care across the country and around the world."
CancerX’s flagship program, the CancerX Accelerator, is inviting startups for its 2026 cohort. The application period is open through Oct. 28. Oncology startups are encouraged to join this collaborative environment designed to advance early-stage solutions. Past participants have credited the program with helping refine products, connect with industry leaders and access funding opportunities. The program also boasts of newly added champion organizations, like Rush University Medical Center, Atlantic Health System and AstraZeneca.
About CancerX
CancerX is a groundbreaking public-private partnership designed to accelerate innovation in the fight against cancer. The initiative brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including leaders from healthcare, pharmaceutical and payor organizations, to drive digital progress across the cancer care continuum. In collaboration with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), CancerX is part of the InnovationX program launched in 2018.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-844-615-9372), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Advocate Health is nationally recognized for its expertise in heart and vascular, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs more than 160,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to redefining care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kim Polacek I Kim.Polacek@Moffitt.org
Jolie Shifflet I Jolie.Shifflet@advocatehealth.org