TOLEDO, Ohio — The University of Toledo announced Wednesday it’s launching the Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute, which will bring together experts to help advance cancer treatment.
“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 create an environment for collaboration for clinicians and researchers who specialize in biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, pharmacy and physics at UToledo, along with partners ProMedica and the Toledo Clinic. So far, 60 experts have been chosen for inaugural membership, according to the university.
The experts include 50 University of Toledo faculty who have active cancer research supported by nearly $13 million in grants.
They will be tasked with developing innovate projects, competing for large-scale grants to advance their work and more. They will also collaborate with working groups specializing in breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer.
“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 University of Toledo said the new center will also support growth in experiential learning, innovative research and community health.
“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,” University of Toledo President James 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.”
Lydia Taylor
Source link