Ohio State, Moffitt Form National Cancer Research Collaboration
The OSUCCC – James is partnering with Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., to form what is likely the largest collaboration of its kind to accelerate discoveries in cancer research. The Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN) will hasten the development and delivery of more precise cancer treatments, diagnostic tools and prevention strategies through secure research sharing among the nation’s top cancer centers and institutions. The partnership launched with more than 100,000 consented patients who have agreed to donate their tissue and clinical data for research to understand cancer at the molecular level. ORIEN will use a single protocol, Total Cancer Care®, to create a collaborative, “rapid learning” environment that will share de-identified data to accelerate the development of targeted treatments, allowing researchers and clinicians to more quickly match eligible patients to clinical trials and conduct larger and richer analysis. (Note: In early 2015, five more nationally prominent medical institutions joined ORIEN, including CIty of Hope, University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of New Mexico Cancer Center and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga.)
Byrd Recognized With Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award
John C. Byrd, MD, director of the Division of Hematology at Ohio State and co-leader of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James, received national recognition at the 2014 Clinical Research Forum’s third annual Top 10 Research Achievement Awards for his translational research involving the drug ibrutinib in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Achievement Award winners are selected from scientific publications of the previous year that are identified as examples of innovation with benefit to human health. Byrd was honored for his June 2013 New England Journal of Medicine manuscript detailing phase 1/1b clinical trials showing that ibrutinib significantly prolonged survival in all classes of CLL patients, even those at high risk of recurrence. Also in 2014, Byrd was appointed chair of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Leukemia Correlative Science Committee, was named associate editor of the journal Blood and joined the Oncology Times journal team as clinical advisory editor for hematology/oncology.
Bloomfield Honored Among ASCO Luminaries in Oncology
Clara D. Bloomfield, MD, a Distinguished University Professor at Ohio State who also serves as cancer scholar and senior adviser to the OSUCCC – James, was honored in 2014 as one of 50 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Luminaries in Oncology. In observance of ASCO’s 50th anniversary, the organization highlighted the accomplishments of some of the many people who have helped advance cancer care to where it is today in an “Oncology Luminaries” series of stories about each honoree. Bloomfield’s story recognizes her many years of “practice-changing leukemia and lymphoma research.”
Miller Elected as Director to American Board of Plastic Surgery
Michael Miller, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Ohio State, was elected to a six-year term as director to the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Miller performs a wide range of reconstructive and aesthetic surgical procedures, particularly reconstructive microsurgery related to trauma and cancer deformities. He also is nationally recognized for postmastectomy breast reconstruction using microsurgical techniques.
Guo is Recipient of ACS Scholar Award
Deliang Guo, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was the 2014 recipient of the American Cancer Society (ACS) Scholar Award. Guo will receive $792,000 in total costs over four years to help him examine the vital contribution of cholesterol metabolism in promoting the malignant phenotype of glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer.
Croce Listed Among 400 Influential Biomedical Researchers Worldwide
Carlo Croce, MD, director of human cancer genetics at Ohio State, where he also chairs the Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, was recognized on a list of 400 highly influential biomedical researchers worldwide for the period 1996-2011 based on citation data from Scopus, a large database of peer-reviewed literature. The list was compiled by researchers at Stanford University, Temple University and SciTech Strategies Inc. Also, Croce was one of two OSUCCC – James members who were among 14 faculty and staff at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center to appear on the 2014 list of Highly Cited Researchers produced by Thompson Reuters, a New York City-based mass media and information firm. The other listed researcher was Clara D. Bloomfield, MD, a Distinguished University Professor who serves as cancer scholar and senior adviser to the OSUCCC – James.
Fowler, Cohn Elected to National Leadership Roles
Two physicians at the OSUCCC – James were among the 2014 elected officers of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Jeffrey Fowler, MD, professor and vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ohio State, was elected president-elect II. Fowler also is a member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James and medical director of the Robotic Surgery Program at The James and Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center. David Cohn, MD, professor and director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Ohio State, was elected secretary-treasurer-elect. Cohn also is a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
White Tabbed as a General Director on NRG Oncology Foundation Board
Julia White, MD, professor and vice chair of clinical research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State, was named as one of three general directors of the NRG Oncology Foundation Board of Directors. NRG is a national clinical trial cooperative group formed by the merger of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the Gynecology Oncology Group. As a general director, White—who also is a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James— will help oversee all academic, clinical and financial activities of NRG Oncology.
Walker Becomes Treasurer of AACI
Jeff Walker, MBA, senior executive director of the OSUCCC – James, was elected treasurer of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), which comprises 93 leading cancer research centers in the United States. The AACI’s membership roster includes National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated centers and academic-based cancer research programs that receive NCI support. The AACI is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer by enhancing the impact of the nation’s leading academic cancer centers. A key element of the AACI’s mission is to assist the centers in keeping pace with the changing landscape in science, technology and health care.
Radiation Oncology Achieves High World Ranking
In 2014, the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Therapy and Evaluation Program (NCI-CTEP) data ranked Ohio State Radiation Oncology No. 5 in the world in NRG-RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group) clinical research activity, with 78 accruals in 2013. Arnab Chakravarti, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and director of the Brain Tumor Program at Ohio State, says the ranking improves on the No. 7 ranking achieved the previous year. “We should collectively take tremendous pride in this achievement, as basic and clinical research represents the primary vehicle by which we can find cures for the various kinds of cancer,” says Chakravarti, who also is a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Ohio State Joins European LeukemiaNet
The Ohio State University is now an official member of the European LeukemiaNet (ELN), a European Union-funded organization of physicians, scientists and patients who focus on leukemia. The organization has 194 participating centers in 39 countries, and 1,000 researchers and associates. Along with the United States, other non-European member countries include Israel, Lebanon and Russia. The ELN integrates more than 100 chronic and acute leukemia trial groups and more than 100 academic and industry partners across Europe involved in diagnostics (cytogenetics and genetics), treatment research, tumor registry and guidelines development, to form a cooperative network for progress in leukemia-related research and health care.
OSUCCC – James Hosts 2014 NACCDO/PAN Annual Conference
Some 350 decision-makers in philanthropy, marketing, social media and public affairs from across the country gathered in Columbus, Ohio, from April 23-26, 2014, for the annual conference of the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers (NACCDO) and the National Cancer Institute Public Affairs and Marketing Network (PAN). The OSUCCC – James hosted the NACCDO/PAN Conference at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, where participants learned best practices from colleagues and innovative strategies from national experts in development, public affairs and marketing. The conference featured seminars, speakers and events that enabled guests to network, collaborate, mentor, expand their skills and gain new ideas.
Pelotonia 14 Total Tops $21 Million, Boosts 6-Year Tally Above $82 Million
Riders, virtual riders and donors in Pelotonia 14, an annual grassroots bicycle tour that raises money for cancer research at Ohio State, generated a record $21,049,621 and boosted the six-year total for this event to more than $82.34 million. Pelotonia 14, which took place Aug. 8-10 on routes between Columbus and Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, drew a record 7,270 riders from 41 states and 10 countries, as well as 3,700 virtual riders and more than 2,600 volunteers. The tour included 276 registered pelotons (riding groups). Thanks to Pelotonia’s generous sponsors, every cent raised by riders, virtual riders and donors will support cancer research at the OSUCCC – James. Pelotonia 15 is scheduled for Aug. 7-9.