Sylvester Researchers Train as Wildland Firefighters to Advance Cancer Risk Study
Summary
- Sylvester researchers completed wildland firefighter training to strengthen cancer risk research in high‑exposure environments.
- The immersive experience is shaping the WISER study to improve real‑world data collection and prevention strategies.
- The effort advances translational research to reduce cancer risk and improve population health outcomes.
At Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, advancing cancer prevention begins far beyond the lab and sometimes in the field, alongside those most at risk.
Researchers from Sylvester Firefighter Cancer Initiative (FCI) recently took an uncommon step to strengthen the scientific rigor and real-world relevance of their work. Members of the team completed wildland firefighter training alongside cadets from the Florida Forest Service. The effort reflects a broader institutional commitment to translational, worker-centered research that directly informs prevention strategies and improves population health outcomes.
“This was a unique and important experience for the Sylvester Firefighter Cancer Initiative because it supported our research team in fully engaging in Florida wildland firefighter training and completing the certification process alongside forestry service trainees,” said Alberto Caban-Martinez, Ph.D., D.O., M.P.H., co-deputy director of FCI and professor of public health sciences at the Miller School.
From Lab to Fire Line: Immersive Training Shapes Research
Wildland firefighting is a profession rooted in science. It requires expertise in fire behavior, meteorology, ecology and environmental dynamics. For FCI researchers, immersion in this environment provided a new lens on exposure risks and operational realities that cannot be fully captured in controlled settings.
“It gave us a much deeper appreciation for the scientific, physical and operational complexity of wildland firefighting, and it will make us better researchers as we design studies that are grounded in the real-world conditions these firefighters face. Experiences like this strengthen our ability to conduct meaningful, worker-centered research that can ultimately inform cancer prevention and health protection in the fire service,” Dr. Caban-Martinez said.
The experience is directly informing the design of the WISER study, a next-generation research effort focused on understanding cancer risk in wildland firefighters through environmental monitoring, biological sampling and epigenetic analysis. The study is constructed to generate insights that could inform future occupational safety practices and prevention strategies for high-risk populations.
“Through this training, we wanted to better understand how we can tailor our data collection and sampling to the wildland firefighters’ experience,” said Madeleine Sayer, a research support specialist at the Miller School.
Building on insights from previous studies, which identified environmental, physical and mental health concerns among firefighters, WISER aims to deepen understanding of occupational exposures and translate findings into actionable prevention strategies with potential relevance beyond the fire service.
Jose M. Cunill Flores, a doctoral student at the University of Miami, noted that wildland firefighting in Central Florida is entirely different from other regions because of the environment, highlighting the importance of region-specific data in exposure research.
“In Central Florida, wind from the Gulf converges with winds from the Atlantic,” Flores said. “It’s very dry, making it the county with the highest number of wildfires.”
Turning Field Insights into Cancer Prevention Strategies
By moving beyond observation to participation, researchers gained firsthand insight into the challenges firefighters face, including extreme heat, heavy equipment, unpredictable conditions and time constraints. These insights are reshaping how studies are structured and how recommendations are developed.
“I learned so much,” said Chelsea Kavanaugh, a senior research associate at the Miller School. “I had a basic understanding of the role of a wildland firefighter, but going through this training, I now know there is so much more to the job than most people realize. Not only the scope of the work, but also the knowledge it requires and the level of risk involved. It’s not just fire behavior and suppression tactics. They also have to know weather, ecology, heavy equipment operation and so many other things to do their jobs well and keep themselves and others safe.”
For Kavanaugh, the practical challenges quickly became clear. Many of the recommended best practices are effective, but carrying them out in real-world conditions requires additional time, effort and coordination. That shift in perspective deepened the team’s understanding of what they are asking firefighters to do and prompted them to think more critically about how to make those recommendations more realistic and achievable in the field, she explained.
The immersive approach is already generating new research questions and strengthening collaboration between scientists and the fire service.
For Miller School alumna Emilie Brown, M.P.H. ’24, a senior research associate, it opened the door to new lines of inquiry that likely wouldn’t have been identified otherwise.
“It really opened the space for new conversations. Not only between us as researchers, but between the firefighters as they figure out how to pull researchers into their world,” she said.
Advancing Population Health Through Research Innovation
As the WISER study moves into its next phase, FCI researchers will collect environmental samples, including soil, water and air, alongside biological data from firefighters during prescribed burns. These efforts are designed to produce a comprehensive understanding of exposure pathways and cancer risk.
This work reflects the University of Miami’s broader focus on advancing research with measurable societal impact, particularly in areas where occupational risk intersects with long-term health outcomes. By improving understanding of how exposures contribute to cancer risk, this research also supports earlier intervention and prevention strategies that can ultimately reduce cancer burden.
By embedding research within real-world environments, FCI is helping shape more effective prevention strategies not only for firefighters but also for other, high-risk populations exposed to similar hazards.
Expanding the Frontiers of Cancer Prevention
Wildland firefighters represent a critical yet historically understudied population in cancer research. Through forthcoming studies like WISER, Sylvester researchers are working to close that gap, combining scientific innovation with field-based insights to advance prevention and improve health protections, which may help inform policy.
“For me, the experience was incredible,” said UM alumna Lauren Smith, M.P.S. ’24, a research assistant. “They seem like superheroes. It’s really hot, the equipment is heavy and, if there’s an active fire, they don’t know when they’re going to go home. I have a lot of respect for wildland firefighters.”
As the WISER study moves forward, insights gained from this immersive approach are expected to shape more effective, evidence-based strategies to reduce cancer risk, demonstrating how research grounded in real-world conditions can drive meaningful advances in prevention and population health.
More from Sylvesters Firefighter Cancer Initiative
Sylvester’s Dr. Erin Kobetz earns Healio’s “Woman Disruptor of the Year” award for advancing community-engaged cancer research.
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is expanding colorectal cancer screening for South Florida firefighters.
Sylvester researchers validated a wipe test to detect PFAS on firefighter gear, revealing contamination on every set tested.
Dr. Erin Kobetz and Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez speak with Dean Henri Ford about the cancer risks firefighters face.
Tags: cancer research, Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez, Newsroom, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sylvester Firefighter Cancer Initiative