Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences

 announced its funding of 5 cancer research grants of up to $100,000 each. These 5 grants follow an initial wave of funding from the partnership, in which 

 of up to $25,000 each were funded in May 2022.

“We are proud to support the groundbreaking work of our dedicated researchers who are helping to advance the field of cancer medicine, reduce healthcare disparities and improve outcomes for patients with cancer,” said 

, chair of the Health Sciences Cancer Committee and medical director of 

. “These highly impactful research initiatives, 40 percent of which directly address cancer disparities, will help us gain critical insights into some of the most challenging issues facing the cancer community today, which in turn will benefit patients and make a difference in many lives.”

In total, researchers at Henry Ford and Michigan State University (MSU) submitted 26 integration grant proposals for this latest wave of funding. Each research grant has a principal investigator from Henry Ford Health, a principal investigator from MSU and additional key personnel from both organizations.

“The spirit of collaboration that exists among the researchers at our world-class institutions is an essential part of our shared vision to reimagine healthcare and discover scientific breakthroughs that will serve as catalysts for change,” said 

, Health Sciences Cancer Committee member and assistant dean in Research of the 

. “Health inequities and disparities have created gaps in cancer outcomes that have long afflicted patients in both urban and rural communities. These research initiatives funded through our partnership with Henry Ford will play an important role in fighting the health disparities that plague our most vulnerable communities.”

The five grants selected for the latest wave of funding are:

An Adaptive Pre-Treatment Stratification Model for Clinical Decision Support of Patients with Head & Neck Cancers

Goal: To study cancer health disparities focusing on diverse patient cohorts with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Principal Investigators: Adam Alessio, PhD (MSU), Indrin Chetty, PhD (Henry Ford)

Identify Mechanisms Underlying Sex Disparities in Liver Carcinoma Development

Goal: To analyze sex differences in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Principal Investigators: Qing-Sheng Mi, MD, PhD (Henry Ford), Hua Xiao, MD, PhD (MSU)

Enhancing the Therapeutic Gain of Radiation Therapy for Brain Cancer by Reducing Cellular Senescence

Goal: To demonstrate that radiation-induced senescent cells are a source of late injury.

Principal Investigators: Stephen Brown, PhD (Henry Ford), Marcia Gordon, PhD (MSU)

New Nanotherapy for Brain Tumors based on miR-10b Inhibition

Goal: To investigate novel nanotherapy aimed at improving outcomes in glioblastoma.

Principal Investigators: Anna Moore, PhD (MSU), Ana deCarvalho, PhD (Henry Ford)

Development of Sialyl Lewis A Targeting Monoclonal Antibodies Toward The Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Goal: To develop new antibodies that target the most common biomarker for pancreatic cancer.

Principal Investigators: Howard Crawford, PhD (Henry Ford), Xuefei Huang, PhD (MSU)

The Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership launched in January 2021 with the bold purpose of advancing a new standard of healthcare by reimagining how we think about, innovate and deliver health and wellness. As partners, 

Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University

 are investing in emerging cancer research; advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice; working toward the opening of a MSU Health Education Campus at Henry Ford Hospital; creating a unified research community; and empowering health plan customers with great choices thanks to Health Alliance Plan (HAP) and MSU Health Care joining forces.

To learn more about the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership, visit 

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Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences announced its funding of 5 cancer research grants of up to $100,000 each. These 5 grants follow an initial wave of funding from the partnership, in which 18 pilot grants of up to $25,000 each were funded in May 2022.

Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences Funds Five Cancer Research Grants to Advance Cancer Medicine, Combat Health Disparities

Henry Ford Health, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers recognized for excellence in clinical care, research and education, and GRAIL, LLC, a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early when it can be cured, today announced Henry Ford Health as the first healthcare provider in Michigan to offer Galleri

, GRAIL’s Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) blood test. Henry Ford is among an early group of healthcare providers in the U.S. to offer this MCED test.

“We are entering an era of unprecedented ability to detect cancer at its earliest stages, which may ultimately help save many lives,” said Adnan Munkarah, MD, Chief Clinical Officer at Henry Ford Health. “Diagnosing and treating cancer at an earlier stage often leads to more favorable outcomes. We are excited to offer this MCED blood test, which research shows can detect a cancer signal shared across more than 50 types of cancer through a single blood draw.”

The Galleri test is intended for use in those who are at an elevated risk of cancer, such as individuals ages 50 or older. Some younger people may also have an elevated risk of cancer, which is why Henry Ford is making the Galleri test available to patients who are 22 years or older, have no history of cancer or have been cancer-free at least three years, and are not currently pregnant.

“We believe that multi-cancer early detection tests like Galleri are the new front on the war against cancer and will enable us to dramatically increase cancer detection from screening in the population, with the goal of improving public health,” said Bob Ragusa, Chief Executive Officer at GRAIL. “We are excited to work with Henry Ford Health in adding Galleri as a complement to U.S. guideline-recommended cancer screenings.”

Galleri MCED test can detect many cancers that are not commonly screened for today to allow for earlier treatment, and can be incorporated into a routine healthcare visit. If a cancer signal is found, the results can point to where in the body the cancer is coming from. This can help healthcare providers guide next steps.

“Routine cancer screenings remain essential for early detection,” said Ben Movsas, MD, Medical Director of Henry Ford Health Cancer. “But a MCED blood test can be used in addition to guideline-recommended cancer screenings, such as mammography, colonoscopy, prostate-specific antigen or cervical cancer screening. In a clinical study, the test also detected some cancer types, such as pancreatic, ovarian and esophageal, that currently lack routine recommended screening guidelines. This can provide a way to detect cancers earlier that are often not detected until a later stage.”

All cells in the body release DNA into the bloodstream, but DNA from cancer cells is different from the DNA of healthy cells. The Galleri test looks at the DNA in a patient’s blood to determine if any of it may have come from cancer cells. In a clinical study, the Galleri test demonstrated the ability to detect a shared signal from more than 50 types of cancer, more than 45 of which lack recommended screening tests today. Final results from the first PATHFINDER study, an interventional study that examined how well an MCED test can be integrated into clinical practice, were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022 and demonstrated Galleri’s performance was consistent with findings from previous observational and case-controlled studies, underscoring the potential real-world ability of Galleri to find more cancers in earlier stages.

“For many people, routine cancer screenings are a part of the regular care they receive from their primary care physician,” said Dan Passerman, DO, Chair of Family Medicine at Henry Ford Health. “The ability to include this test in a routine visit, and to obtain actionable health information as a result, will help people protect their health in a very meaningful and convenient way.”

Because the test is not currently covered by insurance, the Galleri MCED test is an out-of-pocket cost. Patients may be eligible to participate in the interventional PATHFINDER 2 study, which is evaluating the implementation and performance of Galleri in a clinical care setting. The study is currently enrolling individuals who meet the eligibility requirements, which include:

50 years or older and receive care at Henry Ford Health.

Have never been diagnosed with cancer or have been cancer-free at least three years.

Are not participants in previous or ongoing GRAIL sponsored studies.

Henry Ford team members and their dependents who are enrolled in a Health Alliance Plan (HAP) of Michigan insurance plan may be eligible for a test at no cost.

Galleri is available by physician order only. Those who may be interested in the Galleri test should consult with their Henry Ford primary care physician to determine whether the test is appropriate for them.

Henry Ford Health is the first healthcare provider in Michigan to offer Galleri®, GRAIL’s Multi-Cancer Early Detection blood test. 

Henry Ford Health First in Michigan to Offer Multi-Cancer Early Detection Blood Test

 has earned a three-year accreditation from the 

National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC)

, which was developed through a collaboration between the OSTRiCh (Optimizing the Surgical Treatment of Rectal Cancer) consortium and the 

Henry Ford is one of only 69 hospitals in the country to earn this recognition, which requires a hospital to have a multidisciplinary care team; adopt 

 on program management, clinical services and quality improvement; and undergo an in-depth site visit to verify the hospital meets all accreditation standards.

“We are honored to earn this prestigious recognition, which is a direct reflection of the world class colorectal cancer care our patients receive at Henry Ford,” said 

, division head of Colon and Rectal Surgery at 

. “Our multidisciplinary team, which includes surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists and pathologists, all work together to create a care experience that delivers upon our promise of transforming lives and communities through health and wellness, one person at a time.”

The NAPRC is based on successful international models that emphasize program structure, patient care processes, performance improvement and performance measures. NAPRC establishes multidisciplinary teams and research-supported protocols, collects data, and tracks processes and patient outcomes. The program also verifies adherence to evidence-based procedures.

Colorectal cancer is a collective name for cancers of the colon or rectum, the final two sections of the digestive tract. Most colorectal cancers start as growths called polyps, which can be 

. Because colorectal cancer can spread to other parts of the body, it is important to find the cancer at an early stage when treatment is more effective and less invasive.

, 142,462 new cases of colon and rectum cancer were reported in the United States, and 51,896 people died of this cancer. For every 100,000 people, 36 new colon and rectum cancer cases were reported and 13 people died of colorectal cancer.

To learn more or request an appointment with a Henry Ford colorectal cancer specialist, visit 

henryford.com/services/colon-rectal-cancer

Henry Ford Hospital has earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer, which was developed through a collaboration between the OSTRiCh consortium and the Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons.

Henry Ford Hospital Earns Prestigious Recognition from National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer

Findings from a recent prospective study show promising safety and patient outcomes data for locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer treatment using ablative Stereotactic MRI-Guided On-table Adaptive Radiation Therapy, also known as SMART. Approximately 25% of the study’s participants were patients treated at the 

Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center (HFPCC)

Stereotactic MRI-Guided On-table Adaptive Radiation Therapy (SMART) for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

,” this study was the first Phase II prospective international multi-institutional study to deliver ablative doses of radiation to patients with pancreatic cancer.

“As a pioneering institution in the field of MRI-guided adaptive radiation therapy, Henry Ford Health is thrilled to have led this novel study, which was the largest international study of ablative radiation for pancreatic cancer in the world,” said 

. “Henry Ford was first in the world to treat a patient using the 

 MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy system back in 2017. Since then, we have treated many cancer patients with MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy.”

The primary endpoint outcomes from the study were presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the 

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)

, the principal investigator of the study and director of GI Radiation Oncology and MR-Guided Radiation Therapy at Henry Ford Cancer.

“In this study, 136 patients were treated with ablative MRIdian SMART at 13 international centers,” said Dr Parikh. “The study's primary outcome measured grade 3 or higher gastrointestinal toxicity, such as nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain, in the first 90 days after treatment. The study's primary safety objective was met, with zero incidence of acute grade 3 or higher gastrointestinal toxicity definitively related to SMART treatment.”

Secondary measures of the study include overall survival, local control, distant progression-free survival, and changes in patient-reported quality of life, Dr Parikh explained. While study patients are still early in the follow-up period, preliminary clinical outcomes data of one-year local control (meaning the stopping of cancer growth) and distant progression-free survival (meaning the length of time during and after the treatment that a patient lives with the disease, but it does not get worse) were 82.9% and 50.6% respectively. One-year overall survival from diagnosis was 93.9%.

“Our HFPCC is committed to the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs that have the potential to change the paradigm of pancreatic cancer, which at present, has one of the highest mortality rates in comparison to other types of cancer,” said 

, clinical director of the HFPCC. “As relentless advocates for our patients, we offer the most advanced evidence-based therapeutic options available today. We remain steadfast in our belief that outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer can and will continue to improve through global collaboration and critical research initiatives, such as this study.”

Henry Ford Health Cancer is one of the largest cancer programs in Michigan, providing care at five hospitals, 11 outpatient facilities and hundreds of aligned doctors’ offices throughout southeast and southcentral Michigan. Cancer experts at Henry Ford communicate seamlessly across the organization’s multiple cancer treatment locations.

In total, nearly 27,000 patients have been treated with MRIdian. Currently, 54 MRIdian systems are installed at locations around the world, where they are used to treat a wide variety of solid tumors and are the focus of numerous ongoing research efforts.

To learn more about the HFPCC, or to request an appointment, visit 

Findings from a recent prospective study show promising safety and patient outcomes data for locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer treatment using ablative Stereotactic MRI-Guided On-table Adaptive Radiation Therapy, also known as SMART. 

Henry Ford Cancer Institute

Articles

Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences Funds Five Cancer Research Grants to Advance Cancer Medicine, Combat Health Disparities

Henry Ford Health First in Michigan to Offer Multi-Cancer Early Detection Blood Test

Henry Ford Hospital Earns Prestigious Recognition from National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer

Study Shows Promising Safety, Patient Outcomes Data for MRI-Guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy to Treat Pancreatic Cancer