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2012

Frontiers Pelotonia Special Edition 2012

In its first two years, Pelotonia raised more than $12 million for cancer research at Ohio State, and last year, it raised more than $13 million, bringing the three-year total to a remarkable $25.5 million.

Frontiers Pelotonia Special Edition 2012

    A New Funding Cycle

    In its first two years, Pelotonia raised more than $12 million for cancer research at Ohio State, and last year, it raised more than $13 million, bringing the three-year total to a remarkable $25.5 million. The stories chronicled here show how we invested the dollars raised from Pelotonia 09 and Pelotonia 10. As we invest the dollars from Pelotonia 11, we’ll continue to build remarkable stories of discovery, expertise and resources – all brought to bear against this devastating disease.

     In 2009, to cope with the prolonged decline in federal support for cancer research, we established our annual Pelotonia cycling tour to raise money for cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).

    The event generated $12.3 million in its first two years. Thanks to generous underwriters, every dollar raised goes to cancer research at Ohio State. This special issue of Frontiers presents how we’ve applied these funds in three major areas: Discovery and Innovation, Bringing the Best to Ohio State, and Expanding Research Capabilities.

    We’ve invested $4.7 million in “Discovery and Innovation.” These funds stimulate and train outstanding Ohio State undergraduate, graduate and medical students, and postdoctoral investigators for future cancer research (see page 6). Pelotonia also funds team studies by OSUCCC – James investigators, using a rigorous peer-review approval process in which the reviewers select studies that could move us more quickly toward a cancer-free world. Pelotonia also supports two clinical trials, one investigating a breast-cancer vaccine developed at Ohio State, the other a promising therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

    Pelotonia is critical for bringing the best minds to our center. We invested $5.4 million into the “Best to Ohio State” fund, which supports start-up research projects, staff and supplies needed to establish 16 new cancer investigators at Ohio State (see page 19). These learned faculty will stimulate our already great team to be even greater.

    Finally, we’ve invested $2.6 million of Pelotonia funds in “Expanding Research Capabilities” to help outfit new laboratories and purchase high-tech equipment. A solid research infrastructure is essential for turning ideas into discoveries. These instruments are available to all OSUCCC – James investigators.

    Pelotonia 11 raised more than $13.1 million, and we’re now investing those dollars into Ohio State cancer research. I look forward to sharing that story with you next year. Pelotonia 12 is Aug. 10-12. Thousands of riders will take to the roads, pedaling on multiple routes between Ohio State and Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Please join us!

    View the complete issue in PDF format

    What Is Pelotonia?

    Reductions in cancer-research funding came into sharp relief in 2006 when the National Institutes of Health budget was $62 million less than fiscal year 2005, the first cut in real dollars in 36 years.

    When Insight Meets Imagination

    “Brilliant ideas can lead to extraordinary breakthroughs, but without data to back them up, they have little chance of being funded or of the breakthroughs ever seeing the light of day,” says Michael A. Caligiuri, MD, director of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and CEO of The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

    A Chance to Help Others

    Pelotonia means many things to many people. For cancer researcher and Pelotonia-rider Anjali Mishra, PhD, it’s a chance to help others.

    Symposium Showcases Student Researchers

    In a room filled with young scholarly minds, Ohio State cancer researcher Gustavo Leone, PhD, made a pertinent point. “Some of the best ideas in cancer research come from students,” he said, “because they often think outside the box.”

    Where the Rubber Meets the Road

    Clinical trials culminate years of laboratory and preclinical research. They determine whether promising experimental agents will benefit people and prevent, treat or perhaps even cure a form of cancer.

    Providing Tools for Discovery

    Cancer research today requires sophisticated equipment for gene sequencing, cell sorting and characterization, bioimaging, microscopy, data collection and other procedures.

    Bringing the Best to Ohio State

    Funds raised by the Pelotonia rides have been committed to continuing to recruit some of the brightest minds in cancer to Ohio State, and keeping them here. Below are some of the new basic, clinical, translational and population scientists who strive every day – in the lab, the hospital and the community – to create a cancer-free world.