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Accomplishments Report

2021 Accomplishments Report

The report features highlights from 2021 on innovative institutes, initiatives, research studies and grants, as well as recruits, prestigious awards and honors achieved while pursuing a cancer-free world.

2021 Accomplishments Report

    The 2021 report features highlights that included a visit by President Biden, a review of Ohio State’s history since the signing of the National Cancer Act 50 years ago, updates on innovative institutes and centers within the OSUCCC – James, notable research studies, grants, clinical initiatives, recruits and prestigious awards and honors achieved while pursuing a cancer-free world.

    Amid the challenges of being in the second year of a viral pandemic, several high points and achievements occurred at the OSUCCC – James and are chronicled in this report, including our commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act that was signed in 1971, and the 45th anniversary of Ohio State’s 1976 designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

    OSUCCC – James researchers in 2021 gained 28 NCI grants totaling $11.1 million, opened more than 180 clinical trials on innovative treatments, and published more than 800 articles about their cancer studies in prominent scientific journals. This report highlights several of those grants and studies.

    Also covered are four major initiatives funded by Pelotonia, the annual grassroots cycling event that since 2009 has generated over $236 million for cancer research at the OSUCCC – James, including nearly $20 million raised in 2021. The four initiatives, created to help change the landscape of cancer care, include the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology and three statewide projects that involve the prevention of lung, endometrial (uterine) and breast cancer.

    In addition, this report profiles four senior-level scientists who were recruited to the OSUCCC – James in 2021 and some of the many institutional and individual/team awards, honors and achievements gained by our faculty as they contributed to the cause against cancer.

    The annual review also includes links to in-depth stories and profiles of cancer faculty featured on Ohio State’s new Health & Discovery website at health.osu.edu.

    Read the 2021 Accomplishments Report to learn more about the many successes and advances of the past year that have collectively contributed to the OSUCCC – James’ global prominence.

    View the complete report in PDF format

    Empowering translational research and precision oncology

    Vijaya Bharti, PhD, MS, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Pathology at the Ohio State College of Medicine, conducts research focused generally on translational therapeutics and specifically on developing effective therapies for breast cancer, melanoma and other malignancies.

    OSUCCC – James updates

    2021 marked the 45th anniversary of The Ohio State University’s designation by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC), a designation the university has competitively maintained since 1976. The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute opened as the adult patient-care component of the OSUCCC in 1990 and was replaced by a much larger hospital in 2014.

    50 years at the front: Ohio State and ‘The War on Cancer’

    The Ohio State University’s cancer program took root decades before the signing of the National Cancer Act on Dec. 23, 1971, but it began to flourish soon after that historic event. In signing the act, President Richard Nixon called for a concentrated effort “toward conquering this dread disease” – an effort that became known as “The War on Cancer.”

    Drug Development Institute (DDI)

    The DDI is a biotech-like institute embedded within the OSUCCC – James that employs a combination of targeted investments, strategic management and cutting-edge resources to drive projects from discovery to early-stage development of drugs for cancer therapy.

    Research

    Amid a global health crisis, doctors, nurses and researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute continued pursuing their shared vision of a cancer-free world while joining the international effort to increase understanding of COVID-19.

    Research Spotlights: Pelotonia-funded initiatives

    In 2021, funds from Pelotonia, the annual cycling event that raises millions of dollars for cancer research at Ohio State, furthered the OSUCCC – James’ efforts to change the landscape of cancer care by supporting the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO) and a number of statewide initiatives focused on cancer prevention.