New Statewide Effort Aims to Tackle Cancer Crisis

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center will host the inaugural Tennessee Statewide Cancer Collaborative on October 29-30, 2025, at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville. The two-day conference aims to unite researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to chart a path toward a stronger, more coordinated statewide cancer strategy.

With the theme "Advancing Cancer Research Across Tennessee," the event will spotlight ways to strengthen collaboration, expand research infrastructure, and attract both state and federal support for cancer research and care.

The stakes are high. Tennessee ranks sixth in cancer deaths nationwide, with only three of its 95 counties reporting mortality rates below the national average.

Each year, cancer takes roughly 181 Tennessean lives per 100,000 residents, costing the state $4.4 billion in direct medical expenses and an additional $1.5 billion in lost wages and productivity. Experts say reversing these trends will require a coordinated statewide effort, one that bridges rural and urban health disparities and leverages Tennessee's growing research strengths.

"This is more than a meeting-it's the start of a movement," said Jessica Snowden, MD, vice chancellor for Research at UT Health Science Center, who is organizing the event. "If we want to lower Tennessee's cancer death rates, we have to work together across institutions, regions, and disciplines. This conference is how we begin."

The conference will feature a keynote address by Alan J. Tackett, PhD, distinguished professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and deputy director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Plenary sessions will focus on four key areas essential to progress-clinical research, population health, translational research, and drug discovery-while networking events will give attendees opportunities to form partnerships across institutions and disciplines.

Beyond collaboration, the conference has a deeper mission: building the case for sustainable support for cancer research and care in Tennessee. While nearby states like Kentucky, Arkansas, and Florida have established dedicated state cancer funds, Tennessee currently lacks comparable investment.

Tennessee's strengths in research include an expanding network of cancer clinical trials, cutting-edge drug discovery programs, and population health research centers across the UT System. Together, they represent a foundation for a new, unified approach to understanding and combating cancer across the state.

Visit the Tennessee Statewide Cancer Collaborative website for links to register, make hotel reservations, view the conference program, and for information on continuing education credit.