Researchers from Cleveland Clinic and IBM have published a strategy for identifying new targets for immunotherapy through artificial intelligence (AI). This is the first peer-reviewed publication from the two organizations’ 

 partnership, designed to advance research in healthcare and life sciences.

The team worked together to develop supervised and unsupervised AI to reveal the molecular characteristics of peptide antigens, small pieces of protein molecules immune cells use to recognize threats. Project members came from diverse groups led by Cleveland Clinic’s 

, Ph.D., Manager and Strategy Lead for Healthcare and Life Sciences Accelerated Discovery.

“In the past, all our data on cancer antigen targets came from trial and error,” says Dr. Chan, chair of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology and Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Endowed Chair in Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology. “Partnering with IBM allows us to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence and health sciences research to change the way we develop and evaluate targets for cancer therapy.”

For decades, scientists have been researching how to better identify antigens and use them to attack cancer cells or cells infected with viruses. This task has proved challenging because antigen peptides interact with immune cells based on specific features on the surface of the cells, a process which is still not well understood. Research has been limited by the sheer number of variables that affect how immune systems recognize these targets. Identifying these variables is difficult and time intensive with regular computing, so current models are limited and at times inaccurate.

 the study found that AI models that account for changes in molecular shape over time can accurately depict how immune systems recognize a target antigen. Through these models, researchers could home in on what processes are critical to target with immunotherapy treatments such as vaccines and engineered immune cells.

Researchers can incorporate these insights into other AI models moving forward to identify more effective immunotherapy targets.

“These discoveries are an example of what makes this partnership successful – combining IBM’s cutting-edge computational resources with Cleveland Clinic’s medical expertise,” Dr. Weber says. “These findings resulted from a key collaboration between everyone from a world-class expert in cancer immunotherapy to our physics-based simulation and AI experts. Collaboration when combined with innovation has terrific potential.”

Cleveland Clinic and IBM launched their Discovery Accelerator partnership in 2021, which is focused on advancing the pace of biomedical research through the use of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The landmark partnership brings together Cleveland Clinic’s world-renowned expertise in healthcare and life sciences, with IBM’s next generation technologies to make scientific discovery faster.

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The study, published in Briefings in Bioinformatics, highlights how artificial intelligence can be designed to develop better immunotherapy treatments.

Cleveland Clinic and IBM Researchers Publish Findings on Artificial Intelligence and Immunity

 gene mutations may impact cell communication in breast tissue, furthering the understanding of how cancer develops. 

, provide a foundation for personalized approaches to prevent and treat breast cancer based on a patient’s genetics. The discovery paves the road for future studies of the process where normal cells become cancerous in 

 mutations have up to a 72% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer by age 80. Many opt for preventative mastectomies due to limited alternatives.

“To develop alternative non-surgical options, we first need to unravel the processes driving healthy breast tissue to become cancerous,” said 

, of Cleveland Clinic’s Genomic Medicine Institute. “Studying cell communication in high-risk breast tissues can tell us how surrounding cells may help a tumor form and reveal new druggable targets.”

Dr Karaayvaz’s team, led by the study’s first author and former research technician Anthony Caputo, analyzed signaling between cells using breast tissue samples from Cleveland Clinic’s biorepository. They compared tissue from women with and without 

 mutations. The researchers found significant differences in how BRCA-deficient cells communicated with surrounding cells compared to non-mutated samples. 

Cells in the body maintain constant communication. They alert each other of changes in the environment, maintain coordination across the tissue and ensure organs successfully perform their tasks. When this signaling is altered, some cells in an organ can act abnormally compared to the rest of the body. If not corrected, the abnormal behavior can turn the cells cancerous.

The researchers showed the direction of communication is flipped in breast tissue with 

 mutations when compared to healthy breast tissue. In healthy breasts, stromal cells located in the fatty connective tissue send more signals to epithelial cells (the cell type more likely to become cancerous in most forms of breast cancer). In breast tissue with 

 mutations, epithelial cells send more signals to stromal cells.

The team also discovered signaling differences between 

-deficient mammary cells. These previously unidentified changes may be associated with subtypes of breast cancer that mutation carriers can develop.

 mutations are more likely to develop triple-negative breast cancer, which is far more difficult to treat. 

 mutations predispose women to luminal breast cancer, which is less aggressive.

 mutations affect specific cell types, but to our knowledge we are among the first to ask how changes in one cell type impact the surrounding cells in the high-risk breast microenvironment,” said Dr Karaayvaz. 

The study was supported in part by seed funds from Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute, National Institutes of Health grants (R01CA213843, R01CA257502) and VeloSano, Cleveland Clinic’s fundraising movement for cancer research.

New Cleveland Clinic research reveals how BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations may impact cell communication in breast tissue, furthering the understanding of how cancer develops.

Cleveland Clinic Research Reveals How Breast Cancer Gene Mutations May Impact Cell Communication

Cleveland Clinic Middleburg Heights Family Health Center

Cleveland Clinic has celebrated the opening of its new medical outpatient center in Middleburg Heights by hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house. 

At 93,000 square feet, Cleveland Clinic Middleburg Heights Family Health Center, located at 17840 Bagley Rd., is one of the health system’s largest family health centers. Vacant since 2019, the former retail space underwent a full renovation to accommodate the community’s healthcare needs.

The Middleburg Heights Family Health Center marks Cleveland Clinic’s first venture of this size and scope of services in the Middleburg Heights area. Nearly 200 employees work at the facility, which has 168 exam rooms and 12 treatment rooms.

“We look forward to serving patients in this area and delivering advanced care close to their homes,” said Donald A. Malone Jr., MD, executive vice president of Cleveland Clinic’s Northeast Ohio Market. “We appreciate the dedication of the city of Middleburg Heights and Premier Development to this project and are delighted to open our doors to the Middleburg Heights community.”

Cleveland Clinic Middleburg Heights Family Health Center entrance

Medical services offered at the family health center include specialty and primary care, a radiology center, urgent care, a lab, and Cleveland Clinic’s first drive-through pharmacy. Specialty care hubs include pulmonary care with pulmonary function testing and a 

 for patients who have persistent COVID-19 symptoms, neurology, orthopedics, and maternal-fetal medicine.

Patients will also have access to a designated area for shared medical appointments, where groups of patients who share similar health concerns meet to ask questions and share experiences; rehabilitation and sports therapy space; orthopedic physical rehabilitation; and pediatric primary and specialty care.

This project was a collaboration among Cleveland Clinic, Middleburg Heights leadership, and Premier Development Partners.

Cleveland Clinic Middleburg Heights Family Health Center sports therapy space

“Cleveland Clinic’s significant investment in redeveloping this former Kmart site has not only created more redevelopment opportunities in the city but has also provided additional health and medical resources for residents of Middleburg Heights and surrounding communities,” said Middleburg Heights Mayor Matthew Castelli.

“We are thankful to partner with Cleveland Clinic and be a part of the long-term solution to meet their needs in this location,” said Spencer Pisczak, president of Premier Development Partners. “This was a unified process from day one to today’s grand opening. Both the Cleveland Clinic and the city of Middleburg Heights delivered on their plan, commitment, and responsibilities in a first-class manner.”

 is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many 

, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 77,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,658 salaried physicians and researchers, and 19,000 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,699-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, more than 275 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2022, there were 12.8 million outpatient encounters, 303,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 270,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at 

 is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.

Cleveland Clinic has celebrated the opening of its new medical outpatient center in Middleburg Heights by hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house.  

Cleveland Clinic Expands Access to High-Quality Care in Middleburg Heights Community 

Cleveland Clinic has opened a new state-of-the-art cancer facility, named the Fatima bint Mubarak Center, at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

“Today marks the next step in fulfilling our mission to provide compassionate, complex care in the UAE,” said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President and Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair of Cleveland Clinic. “Eight years ago, our mission in the UAE began with the opening of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. It continues today with the Fatima bint Mubarak Center, which will allow patients to receive world class cancer care in the UAE. Thank you to everyone who is helping us fight this disease and improve the lives of those throughout the region. Working together, we can bring new hope and better outcomes to those diagnosed with cancer.”

The 205,000-square-foot facility provides cutting-edge, personalized care for each cancer patient’s journey. The Fatima bint Mubarak Center is modeled after Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Center, which is home to the No. 6 cancer program in the United States, according to 

. The new cancer facility brings an integrated and transformative approach to diagnosing and treating the disease in the UAE and the Middle East. Cancer is the third most common cause of death in the UAE and the primary reason patients travel out of the region for care. The new center will help eliminate the need for patients to travel abroad for the necessary treatment and care.

Across its international locations, Cleveland Clinic provides comprehensive cancer care, enhanced by innovative basic, clinical and translational research. The focus is on delivering the most effective treatments to achieve long-term survival and improve patients’ quality of life. The Cleveland Clinic’s global cancer team includes more than 800 physicians, researchers, nurses and technicians who care for thousands of patients each year and provide access to a wide range of clinical trials. Clinicians at Fatima bint Mubarak Center will collaborate with colleagues at Cleveland Clinic’s highly ranked cancer program in the US to bring multidisciplinary care, precision medicine and cell-based therapy to patients in the Middle East.

“Our vision is for anyone diagnosed with cancer to have access to the most advanced care in a way that’s convenient for them,” says Alex A. Adjei, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. “Cleveland Clinic offers that through its comprehensive global network of cancer experts who share best practices and provide patients around the world personalized treatments and innovative clinical trials.”

The Fatima bint Mubarak Center has 32 exam rooms for multidisciplinary cancer consultation and 24 private infusion rooms for administering medications intravenously. The chemotherapy infusion suites are located on the exterior of the building, providing natural light and views of Al Maryah Island and surrounding islands. In addition, the building has two procedure rooms, and an area devoted exclusively to women’s oncology services. The cancer center provides personalized care throughout each cancer patient’s journey, including sophisticated screening and diagnostic testing, advanced radiation treatments, and precision cellular therapies. The center employs an expert team of 150 world-class nurses, physicians, and radiologists— who have experience caring for patients with the most critical and complex cancer challenges.

Cleveland Clinic is committed to increasing access to clinical trials, developing novel therapies, and focusing on untapped areas of research, such as understanding the causes of and managing side effects of cancer treatments, and preventing and treating young-onset cancers.

“For the first time, Cleveland Clinic will bring cancer clinical trials from North America to the Middle East,” says Stephen Grobmyer, M.D., chair of the oncology institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “This will establish a foundation for patients to have access to the latest and best treatments, from early to late stages of disease.”

Beyond clinical services, the facility will house critical support services intended to reduce cancer’s psychological stress, including a healing, comforting environment offering meditation and spiritual areas, and a rooftop and surrounding gardens. The 4th Angel Mentoring Program will provide patients with free, confidential, one-on-one advice and support from a trained volunteer and cancer survivor. The program will begin with breast cancer patients, which is the most prevalent type of cancer in the UAE, and will expand to all cancer patients in the future. A Comprehensive Lifestyle Medicine Program will be the first in the region to support cancer patients with the expertise of a lifestyle medical doctor, physiotherapist, psychologist, and in-house dietitian.

The naming of Abu Dhabi’s cancer center honors the pivotal leadership role played by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and the Mother of the Nation, in the development of the UAE’s healthcare sector. The name recognizes the pivotal gift from the UAE to Cleveland Clinic, made in the name of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi oncology institute established a patient and family advisory council, which included cancer patients, patients in remission, and patients’ family members, who provided feedback on how to enhance the delivery of cancer treatments. Insights from the council have been incorporated into the new cancer center’s design to optimize the services and care patients will receive.

Cleveland Clinic has opened a new state-of-the-art cancer facility, named the Fatima bint Mubarak Center, at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.



Cleveland Clinic Opens New Cancer Center in Abu Dhabi

To increase access to emerging cancer therapeutics and improve convenience for patients and researchers, Taussig Cancer Institute opened a dedicated Novel Therapeutics Clinic. Located on the main Cleveland Clinic campus in the Taussig Cancer Center, the new clinic provides access to early-phase trials of novel agents, including immunotherapies, cell and gene therapies, small molecule drugs, new radiation therapy modalities as well as viral therapies, for a wide range of solid tumors.

The clinical team includes physicians who are experts in pharmacology, immunotherapy and regulatory science, as well as pharmacists, research nurses and nurse coordinators dedicated to early-phase trials. The physicians bring expertise in breast, lung, head and neck, melanoma, sarcoma, gastro-intestinal, genitourinary, sarcoma and rare cancers. Together, they serve the needs of patients with certain mutations that may respond well to a particular targeted treatment, as well as patients who have not found standard of care options effective.

Shared Knowledge Across Clinical Research

The clinic’s multidisciplinary approach can help accelerate research and bring efficiencies to cancer care. Instead of researchers specializing in different solid tumor types operating in silos, they work alongside one another in a dedicated novel cancer therapeutics unit in evaluating, treating and managing patients enrolled in early-phase trials.

“A key attribute to a successful novel cancer therapeutics program is the organized presence of a dedicated group of clinicians with an interest and expertise in drug development,” says Taussig Cancer Institute Chair Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD. “They are immersed in the science, and have a deep understanding of the mechanisms of action, side effects and other characteristics of the study drugs.”

The goal of the Novel Therapeutics Clinic is to centralize and coordinate the care of patients being evaluated for or receiving treatment on early-phase cancer therapeutic trials, including phase I or phase I/II studies. Instead of patients going from clinic to clinic to see different providers, they have the convenience of seeing all of their care team, including oncology specialists, nurses and research coordinators, in one place. Palliative care physicians and nurses are also available for symptom management support.

The clinic team is applying its experience with flexible study designs to help remove common obstacles to clinical trial participation. Often patients who live far from academic centers of excellence or who have transportation issues may be reluctant to participate in trials. To help support these patients, the clinic is making initial consultations possible via phone or virtual visits, and when possible, is working to reduce the number of in-person visits that are necessary for trial participation.

The Novel Therapeutics Clinic is also working to remove financial barriers that lead to health inequities. “We aren’t going to turn away a patient because they’re underinsured or because they don’t have insurance,” says Dr. Adjei. “Our goal is to provide resources to help patients through those situations.”

From the first call to the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Answer Line, a dedicated care coordinator and financial navigator works with patients and physicians to help them navigate medical cost issues. This may include reviewing benefit design, helping patients understand insurance and hospital care assurance program (HCAP) benefits, identifying the best coverage options for their specific needs, checking for insurance approvals and identifying additional financial supports. Financial navigators are an extra resource that can help to identify potential assistance programs, including those providing assistance with medications, housing and utilities.

When a patient is referred to the clinic, a team of specialists reviews the clinical trial options selected for the patient. They help identify the most appropriate trial for the patient based on their type of tumor and the genetic abnormalities or pathology features of the tumor. From there, they work together with the referring physician for coordinated care of the patient.

To increase access to emerging cancer therapeutics and improve convenience for patients and researchers, Taussig Cancer Institute opened a dedicated Novel Therapeutics Clinic. 

Novel Therapeutics Clinic Offers Access to Early-Phase Trials for Solid Tumors

J. Joseph Melenhorst, Ph.D., has been appointed director of the new Cell Therapy and Immuno-Engineering Program, and Vice Chair of the Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology at Cleveland Clinic.

A renowned cancer immunology expert, Dr. Melenhorst will lead the cell therapy developmental therapeutics program, with a focus on translating research into novel cellular therapies for patients. As vice chair of the 

Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology

, he will work with experts from across Cleveland Clinic to advance research and treatment related to the rapidly growing field of immuno-oncology.

“Immunotherapy is the future of research in cancer and various other diseases, and Cleveland Clinic has made it a priority to establish a leading cell therapy program,” said 

 chair of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology. “The program will empower clinicians and scientists to advance personalized cellular immunotherapy and further distinguish the Cleveland area as a top hub for cellular therapy development."

Dr. Melenhorst joins Cleveland Clinic from University of Pennsylvania where he was a senior member of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies for almost a decade. There, he was instrumental in helping bring cell therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy into patient care. CAR-T therapy has revolutionized cancer care. His research spans basic and translational immunology with an emphasis on developing next generation immune-oncology treatments and related translational sciences. His efforts also focus on the immunobiology of CAR-T cell therapies to more safely and effectively target cancers.

Dr. Melenhorst received his Ph.D. from the University of Leiden, Netherlands.

Cleveland Clinic Appoints J. Joseph Melenhorst, PhD as Director of Cell Therapy and Immuno-Engineering Program, and Vice Chair of Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology