Discoveries don’t happen in a vacuum. At Ohio State, the largest single-campus university in the country with one of the most comprehensive health sciences centers, an integrated community of specialized scientists, clinicians and statistical analysts collaborate to develop new medical treatments.
Dr. Marsh talks about OSU’s research culture, translational medicine and creating an environment for success.
Q: How do the people in Columbus and central Ohio benefit from the medical research being conducted at OSU Medical Center?
A: Living near an academic medical center like Ohio State gives residents access to cutting-edge programs in health care. Our focus on research allows us to attract some of the brightest clinicians and researchers to work at Ohio State. Pairing great clinicians with great researchers gives patients access to innovative and individualized solutions to promote health and wellness.
Q: What are some of the specific research projects currently under way at Ohio State?
A: We have great strength in cancer research, including the genetics of specific cancers—like familial colon cancer, brain cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer and leukemia—and have developed some targeted treatments that are in clinical practice or clinical trials today. We’re also doing exciting research into Alzheimer’s disease, autism and imaging. We have innovative device trials in heart disease, sleep-related problems and emphysema. We currently have teams working on targeted areas of need in infectious diseases, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and critical care disease.
Q: What is personalized health care and why is it important?
A: Ohio State has taken the position as a leader in the growing movement toward personalized health care, which refers to treating each person’s condition individually rather than treating all patients with a certain condition the same way. For example, we know that the same breast cancer has predictable outcomes depending on the proteins expressed by the cancer and the molecular signature. We can offer a more specific treatment and prevention plan knowing this information.