Seed Money Research Program

 

A sampling of how the “seed money” concept works for Ohio researchers throughout the state. 

 

“I am happy to inform you that one of my papers is in print now in Molecular Microbiology. This paper has work that is primarily due to the opportunity provided to me by the OCRA grant. This work explains how DNA damage is recognized by the MutS protein. The human homologs of this protein, (MSH2 and in some cases MSH6) are mutated in colon cancers hence this work gives functional relevance to the mutations as we understand the protein more. Hopefully, in future experiments, I can utilize this in translational science.”

Samir Acharya, PhD
The Ohio Sate University

Receiving OCRA seed money at a critical time in the establishment of my laboratory ensured we could pursue our ideas, attain financial stability to continue our work, and generate results that could be translated one step closer to patients. There are many young scientists in a similar position that could greatly benefit from support at the early stages in their career. Empowering OCRA to support projects with seed money is not only an investment in the future but an assurance that cancer patients have access to more effective therapies. Thank you for your generosity. ”

Justin Lathia, PhD
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute

The RO1 grant from the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is for a period of 4 years, beginning April 1,1995 and will provide me with a total of $395,859 in direct cost. This would not have been possible without the grant support I received from Ohio Cancer Research Associates, which enabled me to obtain sufficient preliminary data which served as the cornerstone for this NIH grant.”

Zalfa Abdel-Malek
PhD University of Cincinnati

My group recently received national recognition for our publication in Science of the discovery of a new gene, the RII gene that is most important in causing colon cancer both in families with inherited colon cancer and also many individuals in the population at large. “With your help my laboratory’s work on colon cancer genetics has been going great guns. Our most recent NIH grant…has been recommended for funding for 5 years at $250,000 per year. Without the support of Ohio Cancer Research Associates this work would be dead in the water while we waited for a year or more for money from NIH to come through.”

Sandy Markowitz, MD, PhD
Case Western Reserve University

I am writing to let you know that after being the recipient of an award from Ohio Cancer Research Associates for two years, I have been granted funds from the Case Cancer Center ($30,000 for one year) and from the American Cancer Society ($720,000 for four years). I am extremely grateful to your organization for giving my idea a chance during these crucial transition years when I was developing my research program, and I am proud that your choice to support me now results in more funding brought in Ohio.”

Marie-Odile Parat, PharmD, PhD
The Cleveland Clinic

The seed money grant from Ohio Cancer Research Associates helped my lab receive major funding for four years ($308,000) on a different project in lung molecular biology from the American Heart Association at the National level.”

Vrushank Davé, PhD
Case Western Reserve University

I would like to let you know that I just received a Research Scholar Grant from The American Cancer Society for three years totalling $840,000. The research funded by Ohio Cancer Research Associates contributed to my getting the ACS grant. Much of the preliminary data included in the ACS application resulted from the experiments proposed in my Ohio Cancer Research Associates grant proposal. I submitted a manuscript on Gfi-1/Miz-1 interaction to Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (PNAS) last year, which was supported in part by my Ohio Cancer Research Associates grant. This manuscript has just been accepted.”

Fan Dong, MD, PhD
University of Toledo