COLUMBUS, Ohio – Last year, the inaugural Pelotonia grassroots cycling tour raised $4.5 million for cancer research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, with $1 million of the proceeds earmarked for fellowship grants for undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. This year’s first ever Pelotonia Fellowship Program will fund wide-ranging cancer research projects – from history and communications to molecular genetics and biomedical science – proposed by 29 of the most talented undergraduate students at The Ohio State University. Each fellowship is for up to one year in length and pays up to $12,000. Research topics include studying cancer tumor progression, factors involved in cancer genetics, the role of microRNA in cancer, improving the ability to study brain tumor cells in the laboratory and silencing of leukemia-related genes in a mouse model. In addition, one grant will fund a motivational video for cancer survivors, while another will study how to design effective anti-smoking public service announcements for African-Americans. In addition, one Pelotonia Medical Student Fellowship grant for $25,000 will be awarded to Earl Christian of Columbus, Ohio, for his research project “Consequences of PRMT5 overexpression in B cell lymphomas.” “We are pleased that 100 percent of the proceeds for Pelotonia go directly to vital cancer research, including Ohio State students who can help make it happen. Pelotonia is providing vital research funding for our youngest and brightest cancer investigators, helping bridge the gap until they may one day qualify for federal research funding,” says Dr. Michael Caligiuri, director of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and CEO of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. “Students introduce new discoveries and ideas through their own research, with the goal of one day creating a cancer-free world.” Grant awards of $25,000 for up to 18 graduate students and up to $55,000 for up to 12 post-doctoral researchers will be announced later this year, says Jeff Mason, director of the Pelotonia Fellowship Program. “This unique program fosters collaboration between students and our top researchers to infuse new lifeblood into the field that will help move discoveries forward,” says Mason. The second annual Pelotonia is scheduled for Aug. 20-22. For more information, visit www.pelotonia.org. The undergraduate grant recipients, along with their hometowns, majors and titles of their research projects, include: Phillip Allen, Findlay, Ohio; World Literatures; “One story at a time” Jason Carrier, West Chester, Ohio; Computer Science and Engineering; “Modeling structural robustness of tumor cells” Lori Carter, Gahanna, Ohio; History; “The radical mastectomy of Nabby Adams Smith; living and dying with dignity in the public shadow of two U.S. presidents” Clint Christman, Worthington, Ohio; Molecular Genetics; “Identification and characterization of Atg1 substrates important for autophagy” Tyler Church, Oakwood, Ohio; Chemistry and Molecular Genetics; “Matrix metalloproteinases: a target for catalytic degradation” Shauna Collins, Hudson, Ohio; Biomedical Science; “The role of CS1 in the natural killer cell versus multiple myeloma effect” Jinna Deslandes, Pickerington, Ohio; Molecular Genetics, “Regulation of ABC transporter systems by a Rho GTPase” Dustin Gable, Miller City, Ohio; Biomedical Science, “Ets1 as a potential target of microRNA-1 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma” Molly Gallagher, Beavercreek, Ohio; Ecology, Evolution and Anthropology; “Confirming targets and unraveling pathways of the regulatory Pax2/5/8 transcription factor EGL-38” Kate Gordon, Columbus, Ohio; Biochemistry; “Targeting protein arginine methytransferase 5 (PRMT5) overexpression in glioblastoma multiforme” Kelsey Gray, Canton, Ohio; Biomedical Science; “Role of DCPS in squamous cell carcinoma” Paul Gruenbacher, Fairfield, Ohio; Biology; “Moving through the neighborhood: examining the role of brain epidermal growth factor signaling on glioma progression in vitro and in vivo” Andrew Gruenzel, Centerville, Ohio; Molecular Genetics and Chemistry; “The role of E2F3 phosphorylation in Rb-mediated tumorigenesis” Alex Hissong, Centerville, Ohio; Biomedical Engineering; “Developing brain biomimetic material for in vitro tumor studies” Kevin Kauffman, Centerville, Ohio; Chemical Engineering; “Antibody ligation to pulmonary polymeric microparticles for the treatment of lung cancer Anthony Kiragu, Columbus, Ohio; Biology; “MicroRNAs, lin-28 and cancer Jonathan Lee, Dublin, Ohio; Molecular Genetics; “A genome-wide screening of drosophila melangaster to identify endoreduplication in specific genes” Grace Miller, Dublin, Ohio; Molecular Genetics; “Identification of E2f1, E2F3a and E2F3b target genes in mouse liver development/cancer” Kevin Murnan, Cincinnati, Ohio; Molecular Genetics; “Suppression of an intestinal tumor phenotype in vivo by the BLM helicase” Mariya Nudel, Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Biology Mathematics; “A connection between cell cycle regulation and cytoplasmic-nuclear dynamics of tRNA” Thach Pham, Upper Arlington, Ohio; Molecular Genetics, “Tumorigenesis and protein stability of knockin PTEN mutations in mice” Jason Pradarelli, Muskego, Wis.; Biomedical Science, “The effects of tetrathiomolybdate and oncolytic virus combination therapy in vivo” Ronald Siebenaler, Toledo, Ohio; Biomedical Science; “Analysis of epigenetic modifiers in a mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia” Cassandra Skinner, Westerville, Ohio; Microbiology; “Targeting melanoma via the innate immune system” Kathryn Takamura, Upper Arlington, Ohio; Chemistry and Spanish; “Eccentric cleavage products of lycopene: dietary carotenoids as cancer chemopreventive agents” Elizabeth Ulm, Cincinnati, Ohio; Biology; “Coordination of cell fates within a tissue by a Pax2/5/8 transcription factor” Linghan Wang, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Communications; “Design effective anti-smoking PSAs targeting African Americans: a dynamic motivational activation model” Jennifer Wittwer, Cincinnati, Ohio; Molecular Genetics and Chemistry; “Synthesis of natural product derivatives for anticancer treatment” Emily Wong, Solon, Ohio; Microbiology; “Methanobrevibacter smithii RNase P: a model for archaeal mesophilic type A RNase P and a possible antiobesity target” # # # Related Links: Click here for more information on these research proposals: Jennifer Mutchler Medical Center Public Affairs and Media Relations 614-293-3737 Jennifer.Mutchler@osumc.edu