Hoosier Cancer Research Network, formerly known as Hoosier Oncology Group, recently honored Matthew Galsky, MD, as recipient of the Danny Danielson Translational Innovation Award.

The $10,000 award, granted by the Walther Cancer Foundation through the generous support of business and civic leader Donald C. “Danny” Danielson, is given twice each year to investigators working in partnership with Hoosier Cancer Research Network to support the correlative components of clinical trial protocols when financial support is not otherwise available.

Dr. Galsky is director of genitourinary medical oncology at the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and associate professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He completed his residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at the Harvard Medical School and his fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

At Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Galsky was mentored by W. Kevin Kelley, DO, and Howard I. Scher, MD, who introduced him to the field of genitourinary oncology and clinical research. He also credits Daniel D. Von Hoff, MD, FACP, who influenced his understanding of drug development in early-stage trials. “I also learned a lot from him in how to be a collaborator and understand that progress is made through team science and not through individual effort,” he said.

Dr. Galsky’s commitment to team science has led to an impressive record of publication. Noah Hahn, MD, former chief scientific officer of Hoosier Cancer Research Network and now bladder cancer program director at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, has frequently collaborated with Dr. Galsky and introduced him to HCRN.

“At that time, there were really limited avenues to do multi-center investigator-initiated clinical trials, particularly in bladder cancer. It’s a disease that has been historically under-studied and under-funded, so it was quite a struggle to get trials done,” Dr. Galsky said. “So, looking for an avenue to do things in a collaborative fashion to advance the treatment of that disease, that relationship and collaboration grew organically from there.”

Since joining the HCRN network, Dr. Galsky has participated in three HCRN trials, including two as lead investigator.

While progress in research often comes in small increments — true for genitourinary as for many other cancers — Dr. Galsky said he is heartened by recent developments that have led to new treatments just in the past year. Still, he notes “we can’t get these innovations to patients fast enough to make a difference for every patient that we’re seeing in the clinic.”

Dr. Galsky’s commitment to improving the lives of patients through research exemplifies the purpose of the Danny Danielson Translational Innovation Award. Through the award, researchers are able to pursue potentially ground-breaking studies that are not within the scope of an industry- or government-funded clinical trial. Important questions can be explored using banked tissue samples — questions such as how certain genetic mutations and markers are activated and give rise to the development and growth of a cancer, and in turn, how the “switches” that activate that process can be halted or even reversed.

“The only way to learn from both the successes and failures and build on that to design the next generation of trials is to integrate some translational science into those trials, to really understand the molecular underpinnings of how treatments are working or not working,” said Dr. Galsky. “Oftentimes when we are granted funding to do investigator-initiated clinical trials, the funding to support some of that additional work is not included, and so to have funds to support that work and learn as much as possible from every patient who graciously volunteers to participate in this research is a tremendous opportunity.”

For Dr. Galsky, the timing is perfect to apply the funding toward a project that relates to recent developments in bladder cancer research. About four years ago, he initiated a clinical trial with Hoosier Cancer Research Network that combines chemotherapy with an immune treatment for bladder cancer. While that trial continues, data from a study presented at the 2014 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology showed dramatic responses using a similar immune therapy in patients with bladder cancer. “This really invigorated the entire field of immune treatments for advanced bladder cancer,” said Dr. Galsky. “We’ve collected biospecimens from all the patients involved in our trial, and it’s going to be critical to our understanding of how these drugs are working and how to select the best patients for these treatments.”

About Danny Danielson

Danny Danielson is well-known for his business leadership and generous support of individuals and organizations in the state of Indiana and beyond. He began a long and rewarding career with Modernfold, Inc., in 1948, in charge of sales, and later served as president of the company, based in New Castle, Ind. During his tenure at Modernfold, Danielson led the development of a new industry whose product, the Modernfold Door, transformed the way businesses, schools, and churches utilized interior space.

A career move in 1976 led Danielson to City Securities Corporation in Indianapolis, where he has served as vice chairman since 1981. At City Securities, he led a succession plan for CEO and president that selected leaders who have more than doubled revenues and earnings.

A graduate of Indiana University, Danielson has remained a lifelong champion of his alma mater, serving as a member of the Indiana University board of trustees from 1959-1980 and as chairman of the board for 11 years. He served as vice chairman of the Campaign for Indiana and co-chairman of the Endowment Campaign for Indiana University, both of which far exceeded fundraising goals.

Danielson was a friend and admirer of Dr. Joseph E. Walther. At age 94, he continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Walther Cancer Foundation, which he joined at inception in 1985. He has been a great proponent of Hoosier Cancer Research Network since its founding and, through the Foundation, a major contributor to the organization.

In 2014, Hoosier Cancer Research Network honored Danielson with the Terry Hoeppner Patient Advocacy Award for his commitment to cancer research. Read more about Danny Danielson.

Hoosier Cancer Research Network (formerly known as Hoosier Oncology Group) conducts innovative cancer research in collaboration with academic and community physicians and scientists across the United States. The organization provides comprehensive clinical trial management and support, from conception through publication. Created in 1984 as a program of the Walther Cancer Institute, Hoosier Cancer Research Network became an independent nonprofit clinical research organization in 2007. Since its founding, Hoosier Cancer Research Network has initiated more than 150 trials in a variety of cancer types and supportive care, resulting in more than 300 publications. More than 4,400 patients have participated in Hoosier Cancer Research Network clinical trials.