PORTLAND, Ore. — At Oregon Health & Science University's Knight Cancer Institute, doctors have learned that curing cancer takes research, and research takes time and money. Now two doctors have more of both.
Dr. Haijao Zhang and Dr. Ramon Barajas Jr. are both recipients of the prestigious Biden Cancer Moonshot Scholars award. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, it aims to advance cancer research and innovation. Barajas and Zhang are two of 11 awardees nationwide. They received $4 million and $2.5 million, respectively.
"Having two physicians from OHSU receive this award really speaks volumes to the collaborative efforts of OHSU," Barajas said.
As a professor of diagnostic radiology, Barajas leads a team focused on improving techniques for measuring brain tumors. He developed special imaging which studies the area around a glioblastoma. The images show more clearly which immune cells are fighting the brain tumor and which ones are helping the tumor grow.
"You lay this map on top of it, you see the bright colored areas where we'd be able to define that accuracy," said Barajas. "What we're trying to do is detect those immune cells that are helping the tumor grow called macrophages, then develop therapies that will change that phenotype from them helping the tumor grow to fighting the tumor then hopefully eventually killing the tumor."
Zhang is a professor of oncological sciences. She's researching new ways to treat blood cancers like leukemia. That includes studying how missing chromosome pieces can sometimes lead to blood disorders, but also may weaken cancer cells.
"We are hoping to find this weakness, this vulnerability and then we could design specific treatment to further target the weak point of the cancer cells," Zhang said. "This grant means a lot to my research and to my lab."
The Moonshot Scholars Award also aims to build a cancer research workforce that better represents America's diversity. Zhang, who hails from China, appreciates that.
"As a woman in science from another country, my research is underrepresented," Zhang said. "I hope this can bring encouragement to other people."
In this cohort of 11 Moonshot Award winners, OHSU was the only hospital to have multiple awardees.
"The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute follows the evidence that a diverse workforce and diversity of thought enhances science," said Dr. Tom Sellers, director of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. "That makes it especially thrilling to learn that our own doctors Barajas and Zhang have successfully competed for this prestigious grant."
Barajas, who is Mexican American, said it comes down to supporting the next generation of researchers and making a difference.
"I'm so grateful to the university for supporting me, to our patients for coming in and doing this research," Barajas said. "It's a collaborative environment, we work together to help our patients and make their lives better."
The Knight Cancer Institute is always accepting donations of any size for cancer research.