Research Stories
Dr. Katharine Collier Awarded the 2nd Annual Pelotonia-Funded Mason Fisher Grant
| September 19, 2025
Katharine Collier, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at The Ohio State University and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James), is the second recipient of the annual Mason Fisher Grant, funded entirely by Pelotonia dollars.
“I am grateful for the support of Pelotonia and the Mason Fisher Grant in my mission to improve personalized and effective treatment for patients with bladder cancer,” Dr. Collier said.
Dr. Collier, who works with bladder and urinary tract cancers, will use the grant to study how patients feel about and are affected by a new, easy genetic test that doesn’t require surgery. This test will be given to up to 500 people who have a type of bladder or urinary tract cancer called urothelial carcinoma. The research aims to learn more about the genetics of this cancer, which is one of the most common cancers in men. Right now, genetic testing isn’t widely recommended for this cancer because we don’t have enough information about the harmful gene changes and how they affect patients.
Her study will explore how simple genetic testing affects patients and families, regardless of cancer stage, age, or family history, and will specifically evaluate associations between genetic mutations and treatment responses. She hopes this project will build a larger cohort to link genetic variants to outcomes and inspire clinical trials for patients with Lynch syndrome or DNA repair mutations, potentially using genetic testing to guide treatment.
Additionally, the project will assess patient and family views on the risks, benefits and psychosocial effects of genetic testing.
This grant extends Dr. Collier’s translational research focused on predictive biomarkers and resistance mechanisms to develop personalized therapies for urothelial carcinoma.
A seven-year Pelotonia Rider, Dr. Collier took part in the 30-mile Sunday route during Ride Weekend 2025 with Team Buckeye – Full Steam Ahead. This combination of grant support and her Pelotonia involvement reflects both her scientific promise and dedication to the cancer research community.
Honoring a Legacy
About the Mason Fisher Grant
The Mason Fisher Grant Program provides early-career faculty members or learners (students, residents, fellows) in Ohio State’s College of Medicine or the OSUCCC – James with up to $50,000 to advance their research of genetic mutations that can lead to cancer.
The grant program honors Mason Fisher, an Ohio State medical student who passed away after a medical event that occurred while he was riding in Ride Weekend 2022. Mason, a three-year Pelotonia Rider who wanted to be a cancer surgeon-scientist, was a passionate advocate for research.
The inaugural Mason Fisher Grant was awarded to Francesca Cottini, MD. She is using the grant funds to enhance research focused on multiple myeloma, a cancer of certain blood cells, and find out why people with this disease are more likely to get other types of blood cancers too.
