COLUMBUS, Ohio – New research focused on optimizing the immune system to fight cancer, developing AI-assisted treatment decisionmaking tools, and reducing side effects of immunotherapy are among the new research studies funded by Pelotonia at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). Since 2010, the OSUCCC - James has awarded 244 Idea Grants and other funding totaling $34.4 million to faculty research teams, representing more than 200 researchers from 10 of the 15 colleges along with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Projects funded in spring/summer 2025 include: Tracking immune cells to find new ways of harnessing immune system to fight cancer INVESTIGATORS: Wei Chen, MD, PhD; Andy Gunderson, PhD; Olivia Harder, MS; Jordan Krull, PhD; Qin Ma, PhD; Susan Tsai, MD, MHS Researchers have observed that in some cancer patients, certain immune cells group together inside the tumor, almost like they’re fighting an infection. These groups of cells may help people live longer, but scientists aren’t sure exactly how they work. This team is studying these cell clusters to find out where they generate from in the body from and where they might go after the tumor is taken out with surgery. They want to learn if these immune clusters can help the body recognize and stop cancer from coming back. Information from this study could lead to new treatments that help the immune system fight cancer better. Targeting T-cell energy levels to boost effectiveness of immunotherapy INVESTIGATORS: Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD; Nuo Sun, PhD; Gang Xin, PhD Scientists are trying to figure out why immunotherapy doesn’t always work well for people with colorectal cancer. One problem is that important immune cells, called CD8 T cells, appear to lose their ability to kill cancer cells over time. There is a process in the body called neddylation that helps these T cells make energy. The team found that an enzyme named NAE1 is important for keeping the T cells energized and strong. When NAE1 is boosted, T cells are better at killing cancer cells. This study will test if increasing neddylation in T cells can make immunotherapy work better for cancer patients. Using powerful cancer drugs in new ways to boost immune system’s attack on cancer INVESTIGATOR: Meixiao Long, MD, PhD Doctors sometimes use special antibodies called T-cell bispecific antibodies to help the immune system attack cancer cells, however, these substances can also cause strong immune reactions and serious side effects. To lower the risk of side effects, doctors often start with a small dose before giving the full amount. Through previous research, this team found that starting small could actually weaken the T-cells and make the treatment less effective. In this preclinical study, researchers will test different ways to give these antibodies to reduce side effects but still help the immune system fight the cancer. Studying tumor microenvironment to develop targeted bladder cancer treatments INVESTIGATOR: Katharine Collier, MD, MSc, MSE, MS Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy, surgery to remove the bladder, and immunotherapy. However, treatment only cures a portion of patients. In this study, scientists will use a new method called spatial proteomics to study 570 different proteins in cancer, bladder wall, and immune cells, both before and after treatment. Their goal is to subgroup bladder cancers by the proteins present in the tumor to predict response to treatments, and to find new protein targets for future treatments that could help more patients. Making cancer treatments safer by understanding medicine recycling in the body INVESTIGATORS: Christopher Coss, PhD; Latha Prabha Ganesan, PhD; Thomas Mace, PhD*; Alexa Meara, MD; Dwight Owen, MD, MS; Mitch Phelps, PhD Immune checkpoint inhibitors, or ICI are a class of drugs that work well for many patients but can cause challenging side effects for some that doctors don’t fully understand. The research team is looking at a protein called FcRn. This protein helps keep medicines like ICI in the body longer by recycling them. The scientists think that, by understanding how FcRn works, they can help treat the side effects without making the cancer treatment less effective. Using AI to guide treatments for advanced breast cancer INVESTIGATORS: Joanne Kim, PhD; Zaibo Li, MD, PhD; Khalid Niazi, PhD, MS; Arya Mariam Roy, MD; Anna Vilgelm, MD, PhD Researchers are looking for better ways to help people with a certain kind of breast cancer (Hormone positive and HER2 negative) that has spread. Usually, doctors treat these patients with hormone therapy and medicines called CDK4/6 inhibitors, but sometimes these treatments don’t work well and the cancer gets worse quickly. The team is creating a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that studies tumor samples to find signs that show which patients might not respond to regular treatment. Their goal is to spot these patients sooner and help doctors choose better treatments for them. Mental health intervention for patients undergoing pancreatic cancer treatment INVESTIGATORS: Jordan Cloyd, MD; Joanne Kim, PhD; Sharla Wells-Di Gregorio, PhD Patients with localized pancreatic cancer often get chemotherapy or radiation therapy before surgery. These treatments can cause serious side effects that affect both their physical and emotional well-being, which might prevent them from finishing their treatment. This study will look at how practical and helpful it is to add a short, four-session telehealth psychological program to their current prehabilitation routine during this treatment. Pelotonia 2025 Pelotonia will host its 17th annual Ride Weekend on August 1-3, 2025, kicking off with Opening Ceremony on Friday evening followed by two days of road cycling with routes ranging in distance from 24 miles to 190 miles. This year, Pelotonia expects more than 10,000 participants throughout Ride Weekend including more than 7,000 Riders, 3,000 Volunteers and countless spectators. For more information on Pelotonia-funded research at the OSUCCC – James, visit Pelotonia Supports Clinical Trial Research at the OSUCCC – James | Frontiers Pelotonia Special Edition 2019. For information about participating in the Pelotonia events, visit pelotonia.org. ###   MEDIA CONTACT: Amanda Harper OSUCCC - James Media Relations Amanda.Harper2@osumc.edu 614-685-5420