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Neuro-Oncology team members at Moffitt

The brain and spinal cord comprise the central nervous system (CNS), a highly complex and sensitive structure that controls many critical bodily functions, including speech, movement, sensation, thought, awareness and memory. As such, specialized expertise is necessary to effectively address malignancies that affect the CNS.

What is neuro-oncology?

Neuro-oncology is a medical specialty that focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors as well as the neurological side effects of other types of cancer and cancer treatment. Physicians trained in neuro-oncology include neurosurgeons, neurologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, neuro-radiologists and radiation oncologists.

Refer your patients to our nationally acclaimed program

As a referring physician, you can trust in the esteemed neuro-oncology specialists at Moffitt Cancer Center. Led by Chair Peter Forsyth, MD, and Program Leader Michael Vogelbaum, MD, PhD, our highly regarded Neuro-Oncology Program team includes disease-specific specialists in the fields of:

Because Moffitt is a high-volume cancer center, our neuro-oncologists have opportunities to treat patients with all types of brain and spinal cord tumors, including very rare and complex malignancies. As a result, our neuro-oncology specialists have acquired unparalleled knowledge and experience.

We take a fully integrated & individualized approach to patient care

Working together, our neuro-oncologists develop a tailored treatment plan for each patient after taking into account multiple factors, such as the type and location of the tumor and the patient’s age, overall health, genetic makeup and preferences. In a single location, we offer a full spectrum of traditional and innovative treatments for brain and spine malignancies, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and neurosurgical options ranging from minimally invasive cranial and spine surgery to complex awake craniotomies. We also offer state-of-the-art stereotactic radiosurgery for tumors of the brain and spine.

A hallmark of Moffitt’s collaborative approach is our neuro-oncology tumor board. Each week, our diverse neuro-oncology specialists come together to share information and discuss complex cases. As a result, Moffitt consistently achieves patient outcomes that are comparable to—or better than—national averages.

We have a robust clinical trials program

Moffitt is also proud to have one of the largest cancer clinical trials programs in the nation. Our patients have opportunities to participate in groundbreaking studies through which they can benefit from promising new therapies before those options are made widely available. Our neuro-oncology clinical trials include investigations of:

  • New ways to use immunotherapy to treat brain cancer
  • Gene therapies for brain cancer
  • The treatment of leptomeningeal disease (LMD), which currently has few effective treatment options
  • The use of individualized approaches to match cancer treatments to the specific genetics of a patient’s tumor
  • The direct delivery of novel therapeutics to tumor tissue

For information about the clinical trials currently accepting patients at Moffitt, contact us at 1-813-745-6100 or 1-800-679-0775 (toll-free) or complete and submit a clinical trials inquiry form online.

We work seamlessly with referring physicians

Moffitt maintains and delivers detailed records to help keep our referring physicians fully up-to-date on the progress of their patients. To facilitate seamless communications, we have a 24/7 hotline for questions and record requests.

To refer a patient to Moffitt's Neuro-Oncology Program, complete our online form or contact a physician liaison for assistance or support. We typically respond to online referrals within 24-48 hours. Virtual visits are available.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Michael Vogelbaum, Program Leader, Department of Neuro-Oncology.