The reach of the James Cancer Hospital extends far beyond Central Ohio. As part of Ohio State’s Global One Health Initiative (GOHi), Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD, is leading the research, vaccination and treatment efforts in Ethiopia for patients with lymphoma. “Lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells, is far more common in Sub-Saharan Africa, and afflicts people at a younger age” said Baiocchi, a James medical oncologist who specializes in treating patients with blood cancers. The prevalence of malaria and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has led to the increased number of lymphoma diagnoses. “Starting in 2015 we opened a lab in Addis Ababa [the capital of Ethiopia] to study these viruses and how they cause cancers,” Baiocchi said, adding the initial research was to determine why the lymphoma rate was so high. “We’re zeroing in on a couple of interesting findings; children who get malaria and EBV, that seems to be the perfect storm [for lymphoma].” Differences in the genetic makeup of people in Sub-Sharan Africa could be another factor in the increased lymphoma rates. Baiocchi and his team, and their partners in Ethiopia, are working on vaccines for malaria and EBV. “Studies tell us the virus here [in the United States] is different from the viruses in Ethipia and the vaccines we use here won’t work there,” he said. “It’s important to understand the genetic makeup of EBV in order to develop a vaccine that will be effective in that region.” The standard of care at the James for lymphoma patients includes a combination of chemotherapy drugs – and has proven to be very effective. “The resources for this aren’t available in Ethiopia,” Baiocchi said, adding the James is developing a less-expensive, targeted therapy that shows promise. There are also plans to create a facility in Addis Ababa where lymphoma patients will be treated with cell therapy.