Magee-Womens Research Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Ronald J. Buckanovich to Pittsburgh.
He joins us from the University of Michigan Health System where he was a principal investigator developing novel diagnostic tests and therapeutic agents for women’s cancer. Dr Buckanovich graduated from Cornell University in 1990 with a B.S. in Genetics and Biochemistry. He then completed the Medical Scientist Training Program receiving his Ph.D. in 1996 from the Rockefeller University and his M.D. in 1998 from Cornell University. He has 55 publications and numerous research awards including a Clinical Investigator Award from the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, and a New Innovator-Directors Award from National Institutes of Health. His work was also recognized by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology with the Best Basic Science Award and Gynecologic Cancer Foundation’s Carol Cause Award. Dr. Buckanovich was elected to American Society of Clinical Investigators, and holds multiple NIH R01 Awards. His lab work has directly resulted in four clinical trials including a national trial and a trial he will be bringing to Magee.
While he was busy moving his family and laboratory supplies to Pittsburgh to open his lab on September 1st, Dr. Buckanovich spoke to us about his work and his plans for advancing his research at Magee.
What is the primary focus of the research you’ll be doing at Magee?
My lab is now concentrating on developing new therapies — for both treatment and hopefully prevention of ovarian cancer. We are trying to target what we believe is the root cause of ovarian cancer, cancer stem-like cells. I explain our work like this: think of ovarian cancer as a lawn full of dandelions. You can mow the lawn and it might look like you have rid yourself of the dandelions. For ovarian cancer patients, that’s often what we’re doing with chemotherapy. We give chemotherapy treatments and most patients appear to have a good response with no cancer on scans. But just like dandelions in your lawn, if you haven’t removed the roots of the disease, the cancer can grow back. Ovarian cancer recurs in 70% of patients. We want our new therapies to target the root of the disease of ovarian cancer. Furthermore if we can develop therapies which target the initial seeds of cancer, we may also be able to prevent the cancer from starting altogether. Ultimately, as a physician scientist, I want to take what we do in the lab and directly impact patient care. And then take what we learn from patients in clinical trials and bring it back to the lab and repeat the process.
Logistically, what is involved in moving your lab from Michigan to Pittsburgh?
It’s a challenge, but we’re excited about the opportunity. We have cells that have to stay in liquid nitrogen during transport to Pittsburgh. So we need different freezers that can keep these samples down to negative 80 degrees fahrenheit. The University of Pittsburgh has been great in assisting in the move and finding special movers who can ensure the safety of the tissues. We have years and years of research locked up in these freezers. If something would happen to them, hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of our life in research would be gone.
I’m also bringing four other investigators with me. Two post doctoral fellows with PhD’s and two research assistants with PhDs who have been working in science for ten years at a senior level and who are critical to helping run the lab.
Why did you choose to join Magee? What makes this Institute unique?
Magee’s focus on women’s health research is really special. We will have an obvious synergy and work closely with the breast cancer researchers. But also at Magee, so much more interaction can take place working literally right next to people looking into numerous aspects of womens health including infertility and ovarian development. And often how the ovaries develop and how cancer develops are parallel. Being so close to people who understand development in general and epigenetics in particular can help inform our research.
How important is philanthropy to your research?
My lab and job likely doesn’t exist without philanthropy. My initial grant came from the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Years ago when I was first applying for jobs, it was a challenge as I didn’t have funding. However I got an initial grant, via philanthropic support, from the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Because of this donation I got the data, which got us a big paper, and then I became a highly sought after investigator. You’ve heard the expression, you can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job? The same Catch 22 often takes place having a lab and getting funding as a junior investigator. Plus, when it comes to creative, new, but high risk ideas, many funding sources, such as the NIH, are reluctant to risk their limited resources. This is where philanthropy ‘seed funding’ is critical. This support allows us to take risk and get the data needed to prove an idea is sound Seed funding can really get the ball rolling for a researcher. These small grants can turn into millions of dollars down the road from other sources that will now be more willing to fund you. Every single investment is important. In fact two major projects in our lab were launched with philanthropy and ultimately has led directly to two clinical trials.
Besides your research team, is anyone else coming to Pittsburgh with you?
My wife and children will be joining me. My wife, also a physician scientist, will work at UPMC and with the Veterans Administration developing a chronic disease center. I have a nine-year-old daughter and six-year-old son both of whom have been really understanding of our desire to come to Pittsburgh.
I’m also a big hockey fan so I’m excited to cheer on the Penguins. I really love everything I know about Pittsburgh so far. The sense we have of Pittsburgh is that it is a very livable place and we’re looking forward to it.