Shifting into high gear: Accelerating cancer research with Pelotonia

From bumper stickers circling I-270 to yard signs across Central Ohio, Pelotonia has become a fixture of Columbus culture. Thousands of cyclists come together for the nonprofit’s annual Ride Weekend every August to raise money 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). 

Those funds support researchers at the Ohio State College of Pharmacy because of its association with the OSUCCC – James, and many of those faculty, staff and students pay it forward as participants in the race. 

“One of the many reasons that I moved to Ohio State last year was because of the amazing community support for cancer research,” said Dean Deanna Kroetz, PhD, BS Pharm ’85. “Universities around the country talk about Pelotonia with envy. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to help raise funds to support research like mine and other faculty members' in the College of Pharmacy.”

Cultivating a research dream team 

From funding undergraduate students to sponsoring game-changing equipment, Pelotonia funding benefits every level of cancer research. 12% of the nonprofit’s spending is dedicated to Idea Grants. These are awarded to any member of the university or medical center to support early research. 

Idea Grants have proven to be a key stepping stone for over 200 research projects to gain the traction needed for larger funding. Idea grants earned by faculty at the College of Pharmacy have ranged in focus from the evaluation of myeloid leukemia medications by Professor and Gertrude Parker Heer Chair in Cancer Research Sharyn Baker, PharmD, PhD, to searching for a new target in breast cancer treatment lead by former Dean Robert Brueggemeier, PhD, and Associate Professor Pui Kai “Tom” Li, PhD. 

“Pelotonia can mean something huge for new researchers or faculty members,” said Assistant Professor Eric Eisenmann, PhD ’21, PharmD. “As the world of research becomes more saturated, grants can continue to become less accessible. Pelotonia funds can help early projects get off the ground and gather the necessary credibility to then earn larger grants from groups like the NIH.” 

Dr. Eisenmann, now a principal investigator of the Experimental Cancer Pharmacology Lab (ECPL), first became involved with Pelotonia while earning his PhD at the College of Pharmacy in 2019. 

Formerly referred to as the Pelotonia Fellowship Program, Pharmacy Pelotonia Scholarships offer assistance to researchers early in their careers. 

From the undergraduate to postdoctoral levels, applicants can earn stipends to support their research.

Since the scholarship’s establishment, 18 recipients have come from the College of Pharmacy, with several of those receiving repeat awards. In addition to Dr. Eisenmann, former scholars still at the college include Senior Lecturer Nicholas Denton, PhD, and Postdoctoral Scholar Kevin Huang, PhD. 

Most recently, PhD candidates Nadeen Anabtawi and Kyeongmin Kim were awarded graduate student scholarships in spring 2024 and spring 2023, respectively. 

Anabtawi is a fourth-year candidate in the ECPL, where she is working to identify and characterize the solute carrier (SLC) drug transporters responsible for moving decitabine (an anti-leukemia drug) into bone marrow cells. 

“I’m really excited about uncovering how decitabine causes hematological toxicity and contributing to safer treatment strategies,” Anabtawi noted. “The innovative approach and unique models we’re using in this research are incredibly promising.” 

Kim, a fifth-year candidate in the Phelps-Coss Lab, is wrapping up her second year of Pelotonia scholarship funding and final year of PhD candidacy. 

“My first experience at last year’s Ride Weekend was deeply touching, as it brought together researchers, volunteers, cancer survivors, fundraisers and their families, all united by the shared goal of a cancer-free world,” Kim reflected. “Being part of this vibrant community and witnessing the collective effort was profoundly inspiring.” 

Kim is contributing to that shared goal by investigating why some cancer patients respond poorly to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), a commonly used anti-cancer medication. Her work will contribute to more effective and personalized cancer treatments.

“Beyond direct research support, Pelotonia has provided invaluable opportunities to connect with leaders and peers in the cancer research field through symposiums, Ride Weekend and other events,” Kim said. “These interactions have broadened my understanding of current challenges in cancer research and inspired new ideas, helping me to delve deeper into my research and plan my future steps as a cancer researcher.” 

Students like Anabtawi and Kim work side-by-side with world-renowned cancer researchers every day through the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and College of Pharmacy. 

Funding from Pelotonia is a contributor to those professional relationships, with 37% of Pelotonia funding dedicated to recruiting and retaining researchers who push the boundaries of cancer treatment. That large chunk of funding supports researchers as they establish or relocate their lab to Ohio State by providing state-of-the-art equipment and growing their team. 

This has supported technology such as the OSUCCC – James Shared Resources, Ohio State’s Campus Chemical Instrument Center (CCIC) and the collaborative High-Throughput Screening Facility, housed in Parks Hall (and supported by the generous donations of alumna Maryann Kennedy and her husband, Larry).

Thanks to the grassroots nature of Pelotonia’s fundraising, researchers who benefit often feel encouraged to engage with the greater cancer research community. It’s because of this that more technology and grants are funded, collaborations are born, new research projects begin and a better future is visible on the horizon.