UToledo Launches Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute

UToledo Launches Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute

The University of Toledo is launching the Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute, bringing together an expert roster of researchers to advance treatment of one of the most pressing public health challenges in Ohio and across the United States.

"Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. The Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute aims to unite the strengths of UToledo and our partners to advance scientific discovery, improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of cancer in and beyond northwest Ohio," said Dr. Jian-Ting Zhang, a professor in UToledo's College of Medicine and Life Sciences and inaugural director of the Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute.

The institute will support interdisciplinary collaboration among clinicians and researchers specializing in biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, pharmacy and physics at UToledo as well as partners including ProMedica and the Toledo Clinic. More than 60 experts have been identified for inaugural membership, including more than 50 UToledo faculty whose active cancer research is supported by nearly $13 million in grants from federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health.

These clinicians and researchers will collaborate across campuses, colleges and institutions as members of the Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute, including developing innovative projects and competing for large-scale grants to advance their work.

They also will collaborate through working groups established to specialize in breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer, as well as through three service cores designed to support high-impact cancer research. These service cores include a biorepository to collect and catalog biological samples and associated clinical data for use in cancer research as well as resources to accelerate the development of anti-cancer drugs and related treatments that will impact not only patient care but also the economy in northwest Ohio.

"The Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute will provide the infrastructure to turn laboratory discoveries into patient-centered care innovations," said Dr. Imran Ali, dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. "Our members will be well equipped to accelerate the translation of their research discoveries into innovative prevention strategies and improved detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer for patients regionally in northwest Ohio as well as across the United States and worldwide."

The new institute leverages the research strengths of UToledo, which was recognized as one of the country's top-tier research universities through the prestigious R1 Classification in the latest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

It also reflects University priorities to support growth in experiential learning, innovative research and community health championed by UToledo President James Holloway. These priorities are organized around three launch pads that outline UToledo's path to advance the future of Toledo and northwest Ohio: Advantage Toledo, Innovate Toledo and Healthy Toledo.

"The Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute is a unique opportunity to advance all of these launch pads as we advance medical research and positively impact the health and well-being of our region," Holloway said. "The institute will position us as a regional leader in translational cancer research, elevating the visibility and impact of the innovative work of our faculty and partners while establishing new opportunities to train the next generation of cancer researchers and physician-scientists."