With a new American Cancer Society designation, an acclaimed Ohio State researcher will expand her important work to promote prevention and early detection through increased access to screening, education and coalition building. Electra Paskett, PhD, FACE, FAACR, FASCO, deputy director for population sciences and community outreach at the OSUCCC – James, has become the first person at Ohio State to receive the American Cancer Society (ACS) Professorship Award, the most prestigious grant bestowed by the ACS national program. “I am extremely honored to have been selected to receive this award,” Paskett says. “This really caps off my research and work with ACS in addressing the cancer burden. The selection criteria focus on research, training, mentoring, leadership and service, all which are core elements of a successful researcher.” Click here to learn how Ohio State’s Cancer Control Program researchers work to reduce the incidence, mortality and morbidity of cancer. After a highly competitive selection process, the ACS Professorship Award is presented to full professors who have histories of pioneering, influential work and mentoring that is changing the direction of cancer research. As an award recipient, Dr. Paskett will receive $400,000 over five years to support innovative pursuits in cancer research. Paskett, who also directs the Division of Cancer Control and Prevention at Ohio State and is founding director of the Center for Community Outreach and Engagement at the OSUCCC – James, focuses her research on designing intervention strategies that inspire people to make lifestyle changes that enable them to take better control of their health, with the goal of preventing cancer or reducing the burden of the disease. She plans to use her ACS Professorship funding to advance initiatives to address cancer health disparities and screening, especially in Appalachian and other underserved populations. “We are using the support to focus efforts on building coalitions to address cancer across geographic spaces as well as within our medical center,” Paskett says. “We can’t really reach our aspirational goals to end cancer unless we help those who suffer its disproportionate burdens.” Click here to learn more about cancer research at the OSUCCC – James.