Moffitt Cancer Center and Speros Appoint Ivis Chaple, Ph.D., to Lead Radioisotope Research and Development
Chaple guides strategic growth of the radioisotope production and research platform, advances radiopharmaceutical innovation, and builds partnerships that expand translational research and clinical opportunities
TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2026) — Moffitt Cancer Center and Speros, Florida’s leading convergent campus creating proximity between patients, researchers and next-generation cancer therapies, today announced that Ivis Chaple, Ph.D., has joined the organization as Director of Radioisotope Research and Development. She brings more than a decade of experience in radioisotope production and radiopharmaceutical development, along with four years in academia.
In this role, Chaple provides strategic leadership and oversight of cyclotron facility operations at Speros. She sets strategic priorities for the platform’s radioisotope portfolio, guides facility planning and development, and cultivates industry engagement and strategic partnerships. She also ensures the platform is positioned to advance Speros’ scientific priorities and expand market-facing translational opportunities.
Chaple also serves as a tenure-track faculty member with the Moffitt Research Institute, where she leads research at the intersection of radiochemistry and translational medicine. She also holds an academic appointment in the Department of BioEngineering, with a focus on advancing nuclear medicine research at Speros.
Her appointment follows the launch of the Florida Oncology and Radiopharmaceutical Growth Engine, or FORGE, a regional coalition founded by Speros to position the Tampa Bay region as the Southeast's hub for radiopharmaceutical innovation, workforce development and radioisotope production.
"The future of cancer care depends on bringing together world-class talent, cutting-edge research and the infrastructure needed to translate discovery into treatment," said Josh Carpenter, president of Speros and chief integration officer for Moffitt Cancer Center. "Dr. Chaple's expertise strengthens our ability to expand radioisotope production capabilities, advance translational research and build the partnerships needed to establish a world-class radiopharmaceutical ecosystem at Speros and throughout the Tampa Bay region."
Chaple recently served as a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she founded the university’s first radiochemistry research center, established a $1 million small-animal imaging facility, led a multidisciplinary research program, graduated several master’s and doctoral students, and oversaw approximately $500,000 in annual research expenditures.
Widely recognized for her contributions to nuclear medicine, she has received multiple honors from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging for her commitment to advancing the field. Chaple earned bachelor's degrees in chemistry from Florida International University, where she attended as an Honors Scholar. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and subsequently held a postdoctoral appointment at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
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About Speros
Speros is a 775-acre campus in Pasco County, Florida, designed to accelerate cancer prevention and treatment through strategic industry partnerships and by forging collaborative space for scientific research and clinical care. Anchored by Moffitt Cancer Center, Speros imagines a new frontier for research and development with a mission-driven real estate venture where groundbreaking discoveries become lifesaving treatments. For more information, visit Speros.org or follow Speros on LinkedIn and X.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 58 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-844-453-0589), visit Moffitt.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
