COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) announces recent grants, awards and honors received by its faculty, staff and teams. Researchers receive NCI grant to study how glioblastoma weakens the immune response Glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor, remains difficult to treat with immunotherapy. Researchers at the OSUCCC – James have received a National Cancer Institute grant to study how the tumor interacts with the nervous system to weaken the body’s immune response, with the goal of identifying new treatment strategies. The five-year grant, valued at approximately $2.65 million, is led by Nandini Acharya, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Ohio State and a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program and the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology at the OSUCCC – James. Her laboratory studies how the nervous and immune systems communicate and how that process could be targeted to improve cancer immunotherapy. NCI-funded study seeks to improve social media messaging about alcohol-related breast cancer risk Many young women do not know that drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. Researchers at the OSUCCC – James and partner institutions hope to improve awareness through a large study designed to strengthen social media messages about this risk.Darren Mays, PhD, MPH, professor of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and a member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, is contact principal investigator for a five-year, $3.11 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. He is collaborating with researchers at Florida State University and the University of Massachusetts to address alcohol consumption as a breast cancer risk factor among women ages 18 to 25. Researchers note that alcohol is a preventable cause of cancer but has been studied less than other major risk factors, such as tobacco use. They estimate that alcohol contributes to about 16% of breast cancer cases in women, with risk increasing as alcohol consumption rises. Eisfeld appointed to AACR steering committee for hematologic malignancies Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, MD, director of precision genomics clinical transformation for the OSUCCC – James, has been appointed to a five-year term on the steering committee of the American Association for Cancer Research Hematologic Malignancies Working Group. One of five new members selected to join the 35-person committee, Eisfeld will help guide initiatives focused on blood cancers and related diseases. At the OSUCCC – James, she also directs the Clara D. Bloomfield Center for Leukemia Outcomes Research, which studies molecular genetics and patient outcomes in diseases that affect the blood and bone marrow. OSUCCC – James recognized as TGCT Center of Excellence The OSUCCC – James Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor (TGCT) Team has been named a TGCT Center of Excellence by TGCT Support, a nonprofit patient advocacy organization dedicated to improving treatment options and quality of life for people living with TGCT. TGCT is a rare, noncancerous tumor that develops in or around joints and can cause surrounding tissue to thicken and overgrow. The award recognizes multidisciplinary teams that provide exceptional care for patients with TGCT. The OSUCCC – James team includes sarcoma specialist Gabriel Tinoco Suarez, MD, and orthopedic surgeons John Alexander, MD, and Carl Quinion, MD. Parwani receives CAP Pathology Advancement Award Anil Parwani, MD, PhD, MBA, professor and chair of Ohio State’s Department of Pathology, received the 2026 College of American Pathologists Pathology Advancement Award. The award recognizes his work in digital pathology and artificial intelligence, which has helped expand access to care and advance precision medicine worldwide. The College of American Pathologists is a global organization of board-certified pathologists. The award honors significant contributions to pathology, laboratory medicine, patient care and public service. Parwani is also a member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James. His research focuses on bladder, prostate and kidney cancers, as well as pathology informatics and diagnostic markers that can help guide patient care. Agne and Ogilvie receive national Research Scholar Awards Julia Agne, MD, associate clinical professor in the Division of Palliative Medicine, and Amy Ogilvie, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Neurology, were among 10 investigators nationwide selected to receive an inaugural Research Scholar Award from the Advancing the Science of Palliative Care Across the Lifespan Consortium. The awards support early-career researchers building careers in palliative care. Agne’s award will support her project, “SymptomPal: Developing a Large Language Model to Improve Patient-to-Clinician Communication of Symptom Concerns During Cancer Care.” The project aims to help patients communicate symptoms more effectively with their care teams during cancer treatment. Agne also is a member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James. Ogilvie’s award will support research examining grief experienced by care partners of people living with young-onset dementia. Both projects are mentored by Jessica Merlin, MD, PhD, MBA, professor of Internal Medicine and director of the Center for Research Excellence in Supportive Care (CREST) at the OSUCCC – James. Agne and Ogilvie are both CREST core faculty. Coleman named among influential cancer survivors on social media Katie Coleman, senior advisor for translational innovation at the OSUCCC – James, was named to OncoDaily’s “100 Influential Cancer Survivors on Social Media: 2026 Edition.” She was recognized in the Twitter category. Coleman joined the OSUCCC – James in January 2026 and advises institutional leaders, faculty and staff as the cancer program expands its translational innovation efforts. She also leads framework development for the Center for Cancer Innovation, helping accelerate advances in research, care delivery and advocacy. Basu gains leadership roles in Endometriosis Society India Sujit Basu, MD, PhD, professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine at Ohio State, was appointed chair of the Overseas Academy Advisory Committee and inducted into the Governing Body of the Endometriosis Society India. The nonprofit professional society works to improve awareness, diagnosis, treatment and research related to endometriosis. The appointment reflects the impact of Basu’s research on dopamine D2 receptor signaling, blood vessel growth and vascular permeability. His work has helped support the use of dopamine D2 receptor agonists to prevent and manage ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and has contributed to ongoing studies exploring their use in treating endometriosis-related lesions. Basu is a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, where his research focuses on the tumor microenvironment, including blood vessel growth and the development of new therapies. ### MEDIA CONTACT: Amanda Harper, Amanda.Harper2@osumc.edu