Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a $5 million statewide investment alongside the Ohio Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente, to go toward multiple pediatric cancer research studies in Ohio, according to a news release.
 
The release states that the research studies will be aimed at improving the detection and treatment of cancer in children.
 
"Pediatric cancer research is vital to improve survival rates and understand the unique biology of childhood cancers," DeWine said. "Funding research that is driven by Ohio's best and brightest children's hospitals and researchers demonstrates once again that Ohio is a leader in caring for, prioritizing, and supporting children and families."
 
The grant has been awarded to the following Ohio-based healthcare and non-profit research organizations for 2026-2027:
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  • Cleveland Clinic
  • Dayton Children's Hospital
  • Maple Tree Cancer Alliance
  • Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
The Thursday announcement took place at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one of the recipients, in Columbus.
 
"Today, better than 80% of Ohio children diagnosed with cancer will survive these cancers, up from around 20% in the 1970s," Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said. "We've come a long way, but there's still a lot of work to do. These grant dollars will advance research that helps pediatric cancer survivors live longer."
 
The release states that the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital will test a blood-based liquid biopsy as a new way to detect pediatric cancers earlier and monitor high-risk children without relying on invasive procedures or frequent MRI/CT scans.
 
"We are grateful for the funding from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and for Governor DeWine's unfailing support to improve child health," said Dennis Durbin, president, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "Our investigators, Dr. Samara Potter and Dr. Katherine Miller, have developed an assay using advanced sequencing to detect tumor DNA through a simple blood draw. This funding will expand their research into a more cost-effective and less invasive test for children and young adults with a high risk of developing cancer or a recurrence of cancer, leading to improved outcomes for these patients."