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:

NIH grant supports collaboration on next-generation ADCs for B-cell cancers
The laboratory of Natarajan Muthusamy, DVM, PhD, a professor in the Division of Hematology at Ohio State, is joining forces with the medicinal chemistry lab at the University of Florida Medical Center to develop a novel approach to antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) design and delivery in B-cell cancers.

This continuing research is possible thanks to a five-year NIH renewal grant of $3.4 million. The resulting product could prove revolutionary in targeting only cancer cells and overcoming resistance patients may develop to current therapies.

Cohn receives SGO Distinguished Service Award
David E. Cohn, MD, MBA, interim CEO and chief medical officer at The James, is the 2025 recipient of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Distinguished Service Award, which goes to those who have demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to advancing this discipline throughout their career.

Dr. Cohn is a former SGO president who is internationally known as an exceptional gynecologic oncologist, surgeon, researcher and educator. He has held numerous national and international leadership positions, including his current role as editor-in-chief of the SGO’s journal, Gynecologic Oncology.

As a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, Dr. Cohn’s research focuses on identifying biomarkers for early detection and prevention of ovarian cancer, as well as on the genetics of endometrial (uterine) cancer. He has published over 300 manuscripts in scientific journals and several book chapters.

Paskett elected as Fellow of AACR Academy
Electra Paskett, PhD, MSPH, FACE, deputy director for population sciences and community outreach at the OSUCCC – James, is among 33 newly elected Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy. She also is a member of the AACR Board of Directors.

The AACR Academy says Dr. Paskett, who also directs the Center for Community Outreach and Engagement at the OSUCCC – James, was elected as a Fellow for “invaluable contributions to cancer screening, prevention and survivorship in underserved and high-risk populations for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer, as well as for seminal studies that established aspirin’s role in preventing colorectal adenomas and duloxetine’s impact on improving patient quality of life following chemotherapy.”

The mission of the AACR Academy is to recognize and honor extraordinary scientists whose groundbreaking contributions have driven innovation and progress in the fight against cancer. Elected through a peer-reviewed process that evaluates each candidate’s contributions to global cancer research, Fellows of the AACR Academy constitute a global brain trust of experts in cancer science and medicine.  

Devarakonda to serve on ABIM Hematology Task Force
Srinivas Devarakonda, MD, associate professor in the Division of Hematology at Ohio State, accepted an invitation to serve on the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Item-Writing Task Force. This will involve writing questions for the ABIM Hematology Certification examinations, including the traditional board certification and recertification examinations as well as the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA) for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.

Dr. Devarakonda specializes in treating plasma cell dyscrasias such as multiple myeloma, amyloidosis and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. He is an expert in stem cell transplantation and immunotherapies, including CAR-T cell therapy. His research focuses on refining the detection of cancer cells in the body using minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, and on leading clinical trials to develop better treatments for patients.

Pyter named as director of Ohio State Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research 
Leah Pyter, PhD, of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, has been appointed as director of the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research (IBMR) in Ohio State’s College of Medicine, where she also is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, and in the Department of Neuroscience. 

In her new role, Dr. Pyter will oversee research initiatives, cultivate a collaborative environment for interdisciplinary projects, and steer the strategic vision and mission of the IBMR, which was established in 1996 to expand multidisciplinary research in psychoneuroimmunology – the study of how the brain interacts with the body’s immune system. 

Dr. Pyter is an internationally recognized expert in psychoneuroimmunology and cancer and systems neuroscience. She has presented at conferences around the globe on a variety of topics, including the gut bacteriome and inflammation in cancer treatment-induced behavioral side effects. She leads the Pyter Lab for Behavioral Neuroimmunology of Cancer and has been a principal investigator, co-investigator and collaborator on numerous grant-funded projects. 

Media Contact: Mary Ellen Fiorino, Mary.Fiorino@osumc.edu