UWF Researcher Secures $825,000 Florida Cancer Innovation Grant to Launch Statewide Lifestyle Intervention for Breast and Prostate Cancer Survivors
Key Insights
Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue of the University of West Florida has been awarded a nearly $825,000 grant from the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund (search) to lead a statewide cancer survivorship initiative.
The "Move & Nourish Florida" program will deliver personalized lifestyle interventions focused on nutrition, physical activity, and stress management for breast and prostate cancer (search) survivors.
The interdisciplinary project brings together experts from multiple UWF departments and community partners including Health and Hope Clinic (search) and the Florida Department of Health (search).
A University of West Florida public health researcher has secured one of the largest externally funded grants ever awarded to an assistant professor within the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health, positioning the institution to lead a statewide effort aimed at improving long-term outcomes for cancer survivors.
Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue, Assistant Professor of Public Health at UWF, has been awarded nearly $825,000 through the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund (search) to launch "Move & Nourish Florida," a lifestyle intervention program targeting breast and prostate cancer (search) survivors across the state. The grant represents a significant milestone for both Dr. Chhabria Unrue's research program through the Integrated Mental Health and Population Analytics for Clinical Translation (IMPACT) Lab and UWF's broader research enterprise.
"This award reflects the innovative, community-focused research taking place within the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health and the tremendous leadership of Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue," said Dr. Shelley Diviney, interim dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. "The Move & Nourish Florida initiative exemplifies our commitment to improving health outcomes through interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based practice and meaningful community partnerships."
Addressing the Hidden Burden of Cancer Survivorship
While advances in screening and treatment have dramatically improved survival rates for breast and prostate cancer (search) patients, many survivors continue to face lasting physical and emotional challenges long after treatment concludes. These individuals are at increased risk for chronic conditions including obesity (search), diabetes (search), hypertension (search), and high cholesterol (search) — comorbidities that can diminish quality of life, increase healthcare utilization, and create additional burdens for survivors and their families.
The Move & Nourish Florida program is designed to directly confront these challenges through a practical, accessible, and sustainable intervention model. Participants will receive personalized support from healthcare professionals, including tailored guidance on healthy eating, physical activity, and stress-management strategies. The program combines the best available scientific evidence with a hands-on approach intended to fit into survivors' daily lives.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration Across Institutions
The initiative draws together a broad coalition of expertise. Within UWF, the project spans the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health's departments of Public Health, Movement Sciences, Social Work, Nursing, and Medical Lab Sciences, alongside the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering's Computational Statistics and Data Analytics Lab. Community partners include Health and Hope Clinic (search), Community Health NorthWest Florida, and the Florida Department of Health (search).
"This funding allows us to translate research into action by working directly with cancer survivors and the communities that support them," Dr. Chhabria Unrue said. "Our goal is to develop evidence-based approaches that improve health outcomes and can ultimately be implemented across Florida."
Building on the IMPACT Lab's Mission
The project extends the work of the IMPACT Lab, which Dr. Chhabria Unrue founded and directs. The lab's research portfolio spans cancer survivorship, mental health, chronic disease prevention, women's health, and population health analytics, with a core mission of translating scientific discoveries into practical solutions that improve health outcomes among vulnerable populations. Beyond generating evidence to help healthcare organizations better support long-term cancer survivorship care, the project will also create valuable research and training opportunities for UWF students.
The Florida Cancer Innovation Fund (search) was established by the Florida Legislature in 2024 within the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, with oversight by the Florida Cancer Connect Collaborative, to support innovative cancer research and treatment models that may serve as catalysts for further investigation and therapeutic development.