Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Congressionally Directed Spending for Construction Projects - Groundbreaking research over the last 20-years in the Kopchick laboratory at Ohio University, situated in Appalachian Ohio, has identified readily translatable methods of reversing therapy-resistance in tumors, which is a major cause of cancer mortality. Major equipment for imaging and next-generation sequencing at single cell resolution are essential to process tissue samples (human and mouse) to determine tumor therapy response and tumor gene expression which are critical for precisely predicting and determining the optimum therapeutic approach for each patient. To ascertain efficacy of the novel anti-cancer approaches discovered at Ohio University and for the generation of pre-clinical and clinical data which are essential for translation of these discoveries from the bench to the bedside, specific state-of-the-art equipment (described here and not currently available in the institution) are required. Over the last four decades, our laboratory has performed extensive and award-winning research in the fields of endocrinology, aging, and cancer. Using genetically engineered immunocompetent and immunocompromised mouse models, we are studying human cancers to assess the therapeutic response of novel treatment approaches that enhance the efficacies of FDA-approved anti-cancer chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Additionally, by partnering with clinicians across south-eastern Ohio area, we have access to several repositories of fresh and frozen tumor tissue samples from human patients that need assessment of gene expression, DNA mutations and variations which allows determination of ideal therapeutic approach for highest chances of recovery. Therefore, the acquisition of the described equipment for imaging and next-generation single-cell sequencing will allow the qualified team of scientists and experts under the leadership of Dr. Kopchick to elevate and transform the landscape of cancer prognoses across Appalachia, which includes 26 million constituents across 423 counties and also presents a cancer incidence and mortality rate markedly higher than the national average. In the expanded technical capacity of research enabled by the earmark funds, our advances in anti-cancer therapy have the potential to benefit millions of cancer patients worldwide.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).