UCF cancer center on track to open next year in Lake Nona

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The University of Central Florida’s new cancer center will open in Lake Nona next March despite this year’s ups and downs for the community during the pandemic.

The center is opening after biomedical research giant, Sanford Burnham, made a controversial decision to pull out of Medical City in 2016.

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Here’s what you need to know about the development:

In 2007, the Burnhan Institute had massive incentives to bring medical research right here to Central Florida in the name of economic growth.
Less than 10 years after the recruiting effort and $81 million later, Sanford Burnham pulled out.
UCF jumped on the chance to fill that void, beating out AdventHealth.
A training facility, oncology department and research centers will all be housed there.
UCF paid $50 million and the county holds a 30-year mortgage. For now the school will pay a half a million dollars a year and tenants pay rent for the mortgage.

Video: UCF professor explains innovations needed to teach American sign language online A UCF professor explains the innovation that were needed to continue teaching American sign language classes online. (WFTV)