North Central Florida is helping advance solutions to some of the world’s most pressing health and food security challenges, from emerging infectious diseases to agricultural pests that threaten food production. At the center of this work is the University of Florida, where researchers and industry leaders are developing innovations with benefits for communities in Florida and around the world.
On October 14, the Kyle House Group (KHG) and the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) brought together Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), former Congressman and KHG senior advisor Ted Yoho (R-Fla.), and leaders from across North Central Florida for a roundtable discussion at the University of Florida in Gainesville. The conversation explored how regional research, agricultural innovation, and biotechnology contribute to American health, economic and national security, and scientific competitiveness.
Connecting Research to American Interests
North Central Florida brings together impressive and critical expertise in human health, animal health, agriculture, and infectious disease research. These fields are closely connected, and advances in one can have important implications for the others.
From emerging infectious diseases and mosquito-borne illnesses to agricultural pests and food security, the region’s researchers are addressing challenges that affect both American communities and global populations. These efforts also support skilled jobs, strengthen the regional economy, and help position the United States to respond to emerging threats.
Federal research investment has played an important role in this work. From 2007 through 2022, more than $85 million in federal global health research and development funding supported approximately 175 projects across six organizations in Florida’s 3rd Congressional District. The University of Florida received approximately $74.2 million of that funding, supporting research spanning tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, dengue, coronaviruses, vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
The discussion provided an opportunity for researchers, industry representatives, and other regional leaders to share their work and perspectives on the federal policies and partnerships that help move scientific discoveries from the lab toward practical applications.
From the Lab to Real-World Solutions
Following the roundtable, former Congressman Ted Yoho and participants toured the University of Florida’s Emerging Pathogens Institute with Dr. Daniel Swale, an associate professor in the institute and the Department of Entomology and Nematology.
Dr. Swale shared examples of research at the intersection of public health and agriculture, including the development of novel insecticides targeting mosquitoes that transmit malaria and dengue. His lab also works on United States Department of Agriculture-supported projects to protect agricultural commodities from dangerous insects and plant pathogen transmission.
These projects demonstrate how research can address multiple challenges at once. Developing tools to control disease-carrying mosquitoes can help protect human health, while research on agricultural pests can safeguard crops and strengthen food systems. Both are examples of how North Central Florida’s scientific innovation supports American communities while contributing to solutions with global applications.
Bringing North Central Florida’s Leaders Together
The roundtable brought together leaders and experts from the biotechnology and life sciences sectors, agricultural organizations, and global health institutions including the University of Florida, Global Health Technologies Coalition, Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Santa Fe College, Agriculture Intelligence Inc, Eleanor Crook Foundation, Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, The City of Newberry, CareerSource North Central Florida, Vestergaard, and the Farm Journal Foundation.
KHG and GHTC are grateful to Congresswoman Cammack, the University of Florida, and all the participating leaders for sharing their expertise and perspectives.
As the United States considers how to sustain research capacity, strengthen food security, and prepare for emerging health threats, North Central Florida offers a compelling example of the value of bringing together universities, researchers, companies, agricultural leaders, and policymakers. Continued collaboration can help turn local expertise into practical innovations that protect American communities, strengthen the economy, and advance U.S. leadership around the world.
