Every January, the UF Health Cancer Center hosts its annual Cheers to the New Year event to celebrate the past year’s accomplishments and inspire enthusiasm for the months ahead. Alongside food, drinks, and dancing, the celebration honors members whose contributions have significantly advanced the center’s mission.
This year, the award for Clinical Investigator of the Year was presented to Padraic O’Malley, MD, MSc, FRCSC, division chief of urologic oncology in the Department of Urology at the University of Florida. The recognition highlights his exceptional impact on clinical trial activity at both local and national levels.
At UF, O’Malley serves as the principal investigator for multiple trials involving kidney and bladder cancer, providing patients access to cutting-edge care. Over the past year, he received cancer center support to fund a clinical trial evaluating a new surgical technique designed to safely remove renal tumors while minimizing damage to the remaining kidney.
On the national stage, Dr. O’Malley has been invited to serve as the NRG Oncology Champion for two trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The first trial assesses the necessity of removing renal tumors in patients with metastatic cancer, while the second evaluates a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy delivered to the bladder in patients with stage I bladder cancer.
These invitations reflect Dr. O’Malley’s success in offering patients opportunities to participate in clinical trials and his recognition as a thought leader in urologic oncology.