Supporting New Discoveries: Pelotonia Idea Grant Funds Research to “Reverse Engineer” Tumors

Modeling tumors in the microenvironment could someday inhibit tumor growth, according to Assistant Professor Jonathan W. Song, PhD, who was awarded a Pelotonia Idea Grant for his research, “3-D View of Micro-Environment to Study Development of Advanced Cancer.”  The $100,000 award in the new Junior Investigator Award category is for two years.  Song’s research study is one of ten compelling studies that have received funding from Pelotonia, the annual cycling movement that has raised more than $106 million for cancer research efforts at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).  In the past six years, 89 research teams have received Pelotonia Idea Grants and a total of $948,348 will be awarded in the latest round of funding.  $8.82 million in funding has been awarded since the program’s inception representing the work of more than 175 investigators across 12 colleges plus Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Song’s study investigates how the conditions of a tumor become abnormal, creating a hostile microenvironment that activates cancer cells.  The study will use microtechnology and tissue engineering to develop a disease “model” of advanced cancers enabling 3-D imaging and analysis.  Knowledge gained from the study will develop therapeutic strategies for stopping tumor growth.  Collaborators in the study are Dr. Mike Ostrowski, co-director of the Molecular Biology & Cancer Genetics program at the OSUCCC, and Alex Avendano, mechanical engineering graduate student, advised by Song.  Avendano explained that modeling tumors in 3D allows them to behave more like they do inside the body, potentially gaining insight into tumor growth and new strategies to contain them.

The confocal live cell imaging microscope system used in this study was purchased with money raised through the Fund a Need auction on the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer. This equipment is critical to conducting modern cancer research but is cost-prohibitive for most individual laboratories to purchase alone.

“Cancer is not only immensely difficult to treat, it is very challenging to study,” Song stated. “We blend engineering design and cancer biology to “reverse engineer” tumors in their microenvironment in a controlled experimental platform to help accelerate the development of new treatments.”

Song is principal investigator of the Microsystems for Mechanobiology and Medicine Laboratory at Ohio State and a member of the Solid Tumor Biology Program at OSUCCC.  Song received a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University and a MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan.  Prior to joining Ohio State, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the Edwin L. Steele Laboratory for Tumor Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

“In order to make breakthrough progress in cancer research, we must continue to find new ways to fund the bold new ideas put forth by top scientific minds,” said Michael Caligiuri, MD, director of the OSUCCC and chief executive officer (CEO) of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.  “That’s what Pelotonia funds allows us to do.”

Doug Ulman, president and CEO of Pelotonia, acknowledged the generous support of the Pelotonia community.  “Because this area of research does not receive much funding, it is an honor for us to invest in brilliant ideas that lead to scientific discoveries that advance cancer research and ultimately save lives.”

Song has been a rider in Caligiuri’s Team Buckeye peloton since 2014.  Team Buckeye has raised more than $200,000 collectively for this year’s event to cure cancer, 100% of which goes directly to cancer research.

Pelotonia 2016 takes place August 5-7, 2016.  For more information, visit pelotonia.org

To view WBNS 10TV's story, "Pedaling with a Purpose, Pelotonia Fundraising Helps Medical Research," click here