Decades of research have dramatically changed cancer care, with more breakthrough treatments on the way thanks to clinical trials that pair patients with oncology experts.   “Over the years we've really improved cancer care, both in terms of treatment and prevention,” says Matthew Ringel, MD, a co-leader of the Cancer Biology Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. “Those advances occurred through cancer research.”   As an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the OSUCCC – James combines care with research in the same facility, allowing Ringel and his colleagues to seamlessly enroll patients in clinical trials that provide access to innovative therapies before they’re widely available.   Click here to learn all about cancer research at The Ohio State University.   The benefits of this bench-to-bedside approach can be widespread, with participating patients often experiencing improved outcomes while playing a vital role in the process of approving new, groundbreaking cancer treatments that can eventually become global standards.   “There are many examples of this — we can identify genes that lead to cancer and we develop treatments targeting those that we did not have before,” Ringel says. “Also, some imaging, like MRI and PET scanning, wouldn't have existed if there hadn’t been research.”   Click here to learn more about cancer clinical trials at the OSUCCC – James.   The benefits of research can go beyond treatments to include prevention, with studies into nutrition and genetic screening helping doctors and patients work together to identify and implement behaviors and interventions that can stop cancer before it starts.   “We have new research being done for dietary interventions, along with screening programs available to families,” Ringel says. “We can help educate people and give them access to physicians and other health care providers to get the testing that can help prevent some cancers from occurring.”   Researchers, like those at Ohio State, are also studying and developing new and emerging tech with the potential for use in cancer care.   “We're using engineering and physical science approaches to understand, prevent and cure cancer,” Ringel says. “Identifying new technologies and applying those to cancer is so important.”   Click here to learn about Ohio State’s Center for Cancer Engineering.