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Cancer Cachexia

Who We Are

The cancer cachexia program benefits from faculty membership that covers several clinical and laboratory research perspectives in cachexia.

    The OSUCCC – James cancer cachexia program team comprises several renowned researchers from across numerous medical and research disciplines. Each team member has a specific and specialized focus that brings unique expertise to understanding the dynamics of cachexia and its impact on patients with cancer.

    Additionally, the team collaborates with other talented research experts in adjacent areas focused on understanding the complexities of cachexia. Doing so opens a range of methodological approaches, novel techniques and advanced insights that lead to better understanding of the disease and, ultimately, improving the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer cachexia.

    Department of Surgery

    Mary E Dillhoff, MD
    I’m a surgical oncologist with a specialty in diagnosing and treating patients with tumors of the pancreas, liver, bile duct and stomach.

    Department of Medical Oncology

    Anne M Noonan, MD
    I am a medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of breast cancer and gastrointestinal malignancies like esophageal, pancreatic and colorectal cancers, as well as hepatocellular carcinoma.

    Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

    Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate, PhD
    I am the director of the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program and Laboratory in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (GHN) at The Ohio State University, as well as a member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James.
    Philip A Hart, MD
    I am a gastroenterologist who specializes in treating patients with pancreatic disorders.

    Department of Human Sciences

    Martha Belury, PhD
    As a member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James, I am interested in the study of whole-body energy metabolism as regulated by interactions between adipose, liver and muscle tissues.

    College of Pharmacy

    Christopher Charles Coss, PhD
    I am a member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James, where my research focuses on cachexia therapeutics, endocrine disease mechanisms and the development of novel therapies for endocrine cancers.
    Mitch A. Phelps, PhD
    I am a member of the Leukemia and Hematologic Malignancies Program at the OSUCCC – James, where I use my expertise in analytical methodologies and data modeling to study novel anticancer agents.

    Physiology and Cell Biology

    Noah Weisleder, PhD
    Loren Wold, PhD, FAHA, FAPS

    Loren Wold, PhD, FAHA, FAPS

    Professor, The Ohio State University College of Nursing
    My area of research is focused on external triggers of cardiovascular disease, with special emphasis on the role of cancer cachexia and air pollution. Both projects are NIH R01 funded and investigate how the cardiovascular system is affected by these stressors. State-of-the art in vivo and in vitro technologies are utilized to investigate how the heart responds to these stressors, and attempts are made to treat with novel pharmacological agents.

    College of Dentistry

    Peter J. Reiser, MS, PhD

    Peter J. Reiser, MS, PhD

    Chair, Division of Biosciences Professor

    Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics

    Carlo Maria Croce, MD
    I am the John W Wolfe Chair in Human Cancer Genetics and a member of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC – James, where I study the molecular changes in genes that lead to cancer.

    Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center Target Validation Shared Resource

    Reena Shakya, PhD

    Reena Shakya, PhD

    Cancer Biologist
    Dr. Shakya is Ohio State’s director of the Target Validation Shared Resource (TVSR). She brings extensive experience with cancer xenografts, GEM models and in vivo validation.