Research Stories
Expanding Access to Cancer Care Nationwide Through Telehealth
| January 15, 2026
For many people with cancer, traveling to receive the specialized care they need can be difficult. After the COVID-19 pandemic made telehealth more common, researchers at the OSUCCC – James are reimagining what’s possible for cancer patients everywhere.
Each year, nearly 64,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Most are diagnosed only after their disease has advanced, which makes them ineligible for surgical options that could cure it in earlier stages. In recent years, oncologists have discovered that some pancreatic cancer patients can benefit from targeted smart drugs, which are precision therapies designed to attack only the specific genetic mutations that fuel a cancer cell’s growth.
Building on these advances in precision oncology is Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and researcher at the OSUCCC – James. Dr. Roychowdhury’s new clinical trial takes the next leap forward: combining the power of genomic-driven treatment with the accessibility of telehealth. By connecting patients remotely with cancer experts and cutting-edge clinical research, his team is breaking down the geographic and logistical barriers that often prevent people from receiving advanced cancer care.
Dr. Roychowdhury believes that telehealth represents an operational innovation — a cost-effective, far-reaching model of care that can extend beyond the walls of major cancer centers. He hopes this clinical trial will serve as a prototype for others, paving the way for more equitable access to research participation and the study of rare cancers.
A 15-year Pelotonia participant, High Roller and Peloton Captain of Team Buckeye – Sameek’s Geeks, Dr. Roychowdhury has raised more than $69,000 for Pelotonia. In 2025, he participated in the 100-mile route at Ride Weekend and the 25-mile route and Trail Run/Hike at Gravel Day. He is also a multiple-time recipient of Pelotonia-funded Idea Grants, and his long-standing dedication to cancer research earned him recognition as the 2025 Pelotonia-Funded Researcher of the Year awardee at the Night of Impact celebration.
Listen to the full episode of The James Cancer-Free World Podcast on YouTube here.
This article appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.
A Novel Approach to Clinical Trials
Every year, close to 64,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
An estimated 1.5% of those have a fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) mutation.
A cancer this rare would make precision oncology treatments through the traditional clinical trial structure difficult; it would be expensive both for the organizer, requiring a broad net to participants, and the patients, who would have to travel to appointments and treatments.
The cost of a traditional clinical trial in 50 locations could be $20 million.
This telehealth clinical trial will allow for full national coverage at just $2 million.
Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD
