COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) announces the following awards, honors, grants and more that were recently given to the organization, teams or individuals:   Mardis speaks at congressional briefing to unveil AACR Pediatric Cancer Progress Report Elaine Mardis, PhD, co-executive director of the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and co-leader of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was among the expert speakers at a Dec. 4 congressional briefing on U.S. Capitol Hill to unveil the inaugural American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Pediatric Cancer Progress Report. The report highlights policies that have shaped the landmark achievements in pediatric cancer research and underscores why continued federal investment is essential to sustain and accelerate this progress. Dr. Mardis, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Ohio State who holds the Rasmussen Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Genomic Medicine, and who co-chaired the report steering committee, focuses her research on using genomics toward improved understanding of how and why cancer develops in pediatric brain cancers. In the past, she contributed to such large-scale cancer genomics discovery projects as The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project. Her current efforts provide clinical molecular profiling of pediatric and adolescent cancers through the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Molecular Characterization Initiative, which has studied more than 6,500 patients. Zhang receives Victoria’s Secret Global Fund career development award in partnership with Pelotonia and AACR to study interventions in women’s cancers  Xiaochen Zhang, MBBS, MPH, PhD, a member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, is one of five recipients of the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in Partnership with Pelotonia and the American Association for Cancer Research. This award funds innovative research projects that contribute to the understanding, prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast and gynecologic cancers, with the goal of eliminating health disparities and improving patient outcomes. Dr. Zhang, an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control within Ohio State’s College of Medicine, is an epidemiologist who focuses on how lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity and diet can impact cancer outcomes and health disparities, particularly in rural populations.  She will use her new grant to develop and evaluate a just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) to support rural breast and endometrial (uterine) cancer survivors with obesity through a six-month, web-based lifestyle program. The program will integrate mobile health technologies and ecological assessment to support participants via self-regulation, goal setting and barrier reduction. Dr. Zhang believes her findings will lead to strategies for enhancing weight-loss outcomes and reducing cancer disparities. Paskett recognized by Susan B. Komen® as trailblazer for lasting contributions to breast cancer research, patient care Electra Paskett, PhD, FAACR, FASCO, deputy director for population sciences and community outreach at the OSUCCC – James, has been named by Susan B. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, as one of five 2025 trailblazers who have made lasting contributions to the study, treatment and prevention of this disease. Specifically, Dr. Paskett received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Population Science. She is only the second scientist to receive this award, which goes to a researcher who has made pivotal advancements in implementing science, cancer care delivery, health services research, epidemiology and evidence-based interventions that enhance outcomes for patients with breast cancer.  Dr. Paskett, who also directs the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at Ohio State and the Center for Community Outreach and Engagement at the OSUCCC – James, was honored for transforming cancer prevention and care among historically excluded and under-resourced communities by leading community-based initiatives that provide evidence-based best practices for cancer-risk reduction, screening and survivorship. These initiatives have resulted in higher screening rates and lower breast cancer mortality in those communities.  Pawlik gains international and national honors  Tim Pawlik, MD, PhD, MHA, professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at Ohio State, and member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, received the prestigious Ludwik Rydygier Silver Medal in Poland for his outstanding research contributions to the international advancement of medical sciences. Additionally, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece conferred the title of doctor honoris causa on Dr. Pawlik, recognizing him as a distinguished surgeon and academic leader whose exemplary scholarship, clinical excellence and service have advanced surgical oncology. He also was elected to the board of governors for the American College of Surgeons, which is dedicated to improving the care of surgical patients and safeguarding standards of ethical practice. At the OSUCCC – James, Dr. Pawlik specializes in treating patients with liver, gall bladder, pancreatic and neuroendocrine tumors. His research focuses on better understanding factors associated with prognosis and staging around gastrointestinal cancers. Lee receives prestigious award from Society of Urologic Oncology Cheryl Lee, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Urology at Ohio State, received the Joseph A. Smith Jr. Mentorship Award from the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) at the SUO’s 2025 Annual Meeting held Dec. 2-5 in Phoenix, Arizona. The award, presented “with gratitude and appreciation for years of mentorship for those in urologic oncology,” was established in 2020 as an annual keynote address to be delivered at the SUO meeting. Dr. Lee lectured on “Level 5 Mentorship: Moving From Transaction to Transformation.”  A urologic oncologist and researcher who specializes in bladder cancer, Dr. Lee is in the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, where she also serves as deputy director of the Center for Community Outreach and Engagement.  Steinhauer to be inducted into 2026 class of AONL fellows Corrin Steinhauer, RN, DNP, NEA-BC, CPPS, chief nursing officer at The James, will be inducted into the 2026 class of American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) fellows in recognition of her exemplary nursing leadership and the sustained contributions she has made to advancing AONL strategies and priorities.  The formal induction ceremony, which will involve 19 inductees nationally, will take place at the AONL’s Annual Conference in March in Chicago. An affiliate of the American Hospital Association, the AONL is the national professional organization of more than 12,500 nurse leaders. Its membership encompasses nurse leaders in hospitals, health systems, academia and other care settings across the care continuum.  Ning honored as Fellow of American College of Medical Informatics  Xia Ning, PhD, professor of Biomedical Informatics and of Computer Science and Engineering at Ohio State, and a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was named a 2025 Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI), an honorary college of elected informatics fellows from the United States and abroad who have made strong contributions to the field. Dr. Ning was recognized for her lasting impact, scholarship and leadership in using information and innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) to improve health and transform patient care. At the OSUCCC – James, she develops AI methodologies with transformative applications in medicine and healthcare, bridging gaps between computational innovation and real-world healthcare challenges.  Huerta named as Fellow of American Medical Informatics Association Tim Huerta, PhD, professor of Biomedical Informatics and of Family and Community Medicine at Ohio State, member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James and director of biomedical informatics for Ohio State’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), was named a 2026 Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), a community committed to using informatics to transform people’s care.  AMIA Fellows are recognized for applying informatics skills and knowledge to enhance personal and population health, improve organizational performance and empower individuals in healthcare. Dr. Huerta, who also serves as chief research information officer and associate dean for research information technology in the College of Medicine, focuses his OSUCCC – James research on the secondary use of federally developed, large-scale data at the intersection of technology and health. Media Contact: Mary Ellen Fiorino, Mary.Fiorino@osumc.edu