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:

Researchers gain NCI grant to pursue new strategy against liver metastasis in colon cancer

A five-year, $2.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute will help OSUCCC–James researchers study a new therapeutic strategy to prevent colon cancer from spreading to the liver.
The study is led by principal investigator Sujit Basu, MD, PhD, professor in the Division of Medical Oncology (Department of Internal Medicine) and the Department of Pathology at Ohio State, and a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James. Dr. Basu says liver metastasis (spread) is the primary cause of death in patients with colon cancer, which is one of the world’s leading causes of cancer mortality.

Tabung chairs NCAB Subcommittee on Global Cancer Research

Fred Tabung, PhD, MSPH, assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James, was appointed as chair of the Subcommittee on Global Cancer Research on the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB).
The subcommittee advises the NCAB and the NCI director on strategic approaches to enhance the NCI’s contribution to global cancer research. Dr. Tabung’s research at Ohio State focuses on the role of diet and lifestyle in cancer prevention, treatment response and survival.

Verschraegen to serve on National Clinical Trials Network Committee

Claire Verschraegen, MD, MS, FACP, professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was selected as the SWOG representative on the National Clinical Trials Network Core Correlative Sciences Committee. The SWOG Cancer Research Network is a global cancer research community that designs and conducts publicly funded clinical trials. The NCTN Core Correlative Sciences Committee (NCTN-CCSC) reviews and prioritizes proposals requesting banked biospecimens collected from NCTN clinical trials for use in correlative science studies. At Ohio State, Dr. Verschraegen treats patients with rare cancers, including mesothelioma, metastatic melanoma, sarcomas and gynecologic malignancies. She also studies new anticancer treatments for solid tumors.

Meara serves on American Society of Clinical Oncology expert panel

Alexa Meara, MD, associate professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, was nominated to serve on an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert panel that will help update the Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Guideline. Dr. Meara, who also directs the Immunotherapy Management Clinic at the OSUCCC – James, is a rheumatologist whose clinical and research focus is on defining how cancer treatment disrupts the immune system and creates autoimmune diseases. She works to classify these new diseases and to develop evidence-based steroid-sparing guidelines for treating them.

DOD grant study may lead to immunotherapy strategies for small cell lung cancer

OSUCCC – James researchers will use a three-year, $830,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to study the role of a protein-encoding gene called Slit2 in enhancing antitumor immunity among patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis. Principal investigator is Ramesh Ganju, PhD, a professor in the Department of Pathology at Ohio State and member of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC – James, where his lab team examines biologic mechanisms of tumor growth and spread so they can develop immune-based therapies.

Hasanov joins International Kidney Cancer Coalition Medical Advisory Board

Elshad Hasanov, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State, was selected to join the Medical Advisory Board of the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) to provide advice to the IKCC Board on medical and scientific matters and promote public awareness of IKCC in their regions and internationally. Dr. Hasanov is a physician-scientist with expertise in kidney cancer, genitourinary cancers, tumor immunology and brain metastases. Initiated in 2009 and incorporated in 2014, the IKCC is a global patient-driven organization focused on kidney cancer. It contains a network of nearly 60 partner organizations, including several in the United States, that work together to reduce the burden of this disease through collaboration, sharing and learning from each other.

Bechtel elected as vice president on state medical board

Mark Bechtel, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Ohio State, was elected as vice president of the State Medical Board of Ohio. Composed of 12 members appointed to five-year terms by the Ohio governor, the board issues licenses and oversees the practice of MDs, DOs, podiatrists and licensed massage therapists. It also regulates physician assistants, dietitians, anesthesiology assistants, respiratory care professionals, acupuncturists, radiology assistants and genetic counselors.
Dr. Bechtel, whose term on the board runs through March 18, 2026, treats patients with a variety of conditions ranging from acne to skin cancer. He has received numerous awards for clinical care and was named to the Physician Care Connection Hall of Fame in 2023. He also is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Regulation, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Federation of State Medical Boards.

Meng joins Cancer Drug Resistance editorial board

Lingbin Meng, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was appointed to the editorial board for the journal Cancer Drug Resistance, a peer-reviewed publication featuring research articles and reviews on pharmacological aspects of drug resistance and its reversal. Dr. Meng specializes in treating malignancies affecting the reproductive and urinary systems, including prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers. Her research is focused on advancing the understanding and treatment of genitourinary cancers.

Alahmadi receives Excellence in Clinical Trials Career Development Award

Asrar Alahmadi, MBBS, assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, received the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Career Development Award, a two-year program that supports early-stage investigator physicians who are transforming and expanding access to the clinical research landscape. Dr. Alahmadi treats patients with thoracic malignancies, including lung cancer, thymoma and mesothelioma. As a research scientist, she focuses on identifying biomarkers and therapeutic vulnerabilities in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) to develop patient-centric, biomarker-driven clinical trials, ultimately advancing SCLC research and promoting equitable cancer care.

Addison elected to American Society of Clinical Investigation

Daniel Addison, MD, associate professor in the Division of Cardiovascular at Ohio State and member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, was elected as a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI). Dr. Addison, who also is director of cardio-oncology at the OSUCCC – James, is a clinical investigator and practicing cardiologist, and a leading expert in cardio-oncology and cardiovascular imaging. Founded in 1908, the ASCI is a nonprofit medical honor society with over 3,000 physician-scientists representing all medical specialties. The society is dedicated to advancing research of disease, improving treatment and mentoring future generations of physician-scientists.

Media Contact: Amanda Harper, Amanda.Harper2@osumc.edu