When good people combine their time, talents, and resources in pursuit of a worthwhile goal, wonderful things can happen.
Such was the case with the recent founding of the not-for-profit Taylor Cancer Research Center in The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers’ (TCCC) stateof- the-art Maumee facility. The new research center, which was launched with the help of a $1 million donation from the Taylor Automotive Family, will make it possible for all area cancer patients to participate in groundbreaking clinical trials and access the very latest precision therapies right here in Northwest Ohio.
Tim Kasunic, MD, of TCCC notes that the Taylor’s generous donation was made in honor of Julie Fisher Taylor, wife of Steve Taylor Sr. and beloved matriarch of the Taylor family, who succumbed to multiple myeloma in 2021. “In addition to honoring Julie’s memory, they wanted to help all cancer patients in our region access cutting-edge research and therapies without the added stress of having to travel out of town. The Taylor Cancer Research Center was a great way to achieve both objectives,” he says.
Another timely event that made the Taylor Cancer Research Center possible was the recent return of John Nemunaitis, MD, to our region. “Dr. Nemunaitis is a highly accomplished researcher and nationally known expert in precision oncology who has published over 500 peer-reviewed papers and has had his work cited over 30,000 times. He has also directed several new drug approvals through the FDA. He wanted to start a research program in our area as he has done elsewhere in the country, and he needed funding to jumpstart the initiative. So, I approached the Taylors with the idea and they were very excited to help support this effort,” Dr. Kasunic explains.
The clinical trials at the Taylor Cancer Research Center will focus on precision therapies, which target specific DNA mutations known to cause cancer growth. TCCC hopes to expand this research to include testing for mutated cancer signals. According to Dr. Kasunic, one of the new research program’s early successes has been the identification of specific small molecules of RNA that silence gene expression in a rare type of cancer. If success continues, this may be applicable to more common cancers. This was achieved through TCCC’s collaboration with the company Gradalis and the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida. “Precision oncology will play a vital role in the future of cancer treatment, and this is the path we want to go down. As of now, there are over 100 approved precision therapies with more in development,” Dr. Kasunic states. A unique aspect of the Taylor Cancer Research Center is that there is a strategizing committee of physicians committed to working on the project. Furthermore, other area health systems are actively participating in the program. “Treatment will be provided here at our center, but we’re getting involvement and feedback from all over the region. All patients—not just TCCC patients—can access the studies and therapies we offer here,” Dr. Kasunic says.
In establishing the Taylor Cancer Research Center, the overarching goal of TCCC, the Taylor family, and everyone else involved with the project is to bring the latest clinical trials and precision therapies close to home, eliminating the need for area cancer patients who are seeking leading-edge care to travel to distant institutions and leave their loved ones and familiar surroundings behind.
The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers, located at 1200 Medical Center Parkway in Maumee and 4126 N. Holland Sylvania Road, Suite 105 in Toledo, also provides imaging, laboratory, chemotherapy, specialized pharmacy, and IV services. The cancer center consists of 13 physicians and 11 advanced practice providers. The cancer center also has satellite centers in Napoleon, Bowling Green, Wauseon, Bellevue, Oregon, and Monroe.
The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers has earned Patient-Centered Specialty Practice recognition and Oncology Medical Home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Oncology homes align systems and resources with coordinated care focused on cancer patients and their needs. This reduces fragmentation, supports shared decision making, and improves the patient experience. They are the first oncology practice in the state of Michigan and the second oncology practice in the state of Ohio to receive this recognition.
For more information, please call The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers at 419-479-5605. ✲
