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| Joy Mitchell Grodnick and Arlene Mitchell present the award to Simon Grelet, Ph.D. |
USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute has named Simon Grelet, Ph.D., as the recipient of the 2025 Mayer Mitchell Award for Excellence in Cancer Research, the institute’s highest internal distinction recognizing scientific achievement and potential for transformative impact in oncology.
The award, established in memory of longtime University of South Alabama trustee and MCI founding champion Mayer Mitchell, is presented annually to an emerging research leader at MCI following faculty committee review. The honor includes $10,000 in research support made possible through the generosity of the Mitchell family.
“Dr. Grelet’s work exemplifies the mission and momentum of the Mitchell Cancer Institute — accelerating knowledge that changes how cancer is detected, understood and treated,” said Natalie Fox, DNP, CEO for USA Health. “His discoveries in cancer neuroscience are generating new pathways for therapies and elevating the visibility of MCI on the world stage.”
Grelet serves as an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine and is widely recognized for pioneering contributions in the emerging domain of cancer neuroscience. His research program at MCI is dedicated to understanding how the tumor microenvironment shapes cancer progression, with a particular emphasis on the interplay between cancer cells, the nervous system, and cellular metabolism.
Additionally, Grelet’s laboratory demonstrated that mitochondria are transferred from nerves to cancer cells to fuel metastasis, a discovery published earlier this year in the scientific journal Nature that reframes how tumor spread is understood and introduces an entirely new class of therapeutic targets. His group has further advanced the field through development of CRISPR-based lineage tracing tools to study cancer-induced innervation and through identification of long non-coding RNA regulators of tumor plasticity and neurogenesis.
His research program has attracted global attention and sustained external investment. Grelet is a recipient of the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute MERIT Award, one of the most selective accolades in oncology, and serves as principal investigator on multiple federally and foundation-funded studies. He is also the lead inventor on a U.S. patent application describing methods to track mitochondrial transfer between cells, representing a significant opportunity and strong innovation for the Whiddon College of Medicine.
Grelet’s work has been covered by major scientific and general media outlets, including Science, Nature, Nature Neuroscience, Cancer Discovery, New Scientist and Scientific American, reflecting international interest in the implications of his findings. He has been invited to present at leading conferences in the United States and abroad, underscoring his standing as an emerging leader in the field.
“This recognition reflects not only Dr. Grelet’s scientific excellence, but also his leadership in building a collaborative, team-focused research environment,” said Theresa McLaughlin, administrator at MCI. “His contributions advance both our science and our culture at MCI.”
Beyond his laboratory impact, Grelet has strengthened the research culture at MCI and across the academic enterprise by revitalizing the Data in Progress seminar program, directing the MCI Summer Research Program, mentoring students and trainees at multiple levels, and engaging community partners to broaden understanding of cancer research and its relevance to patients.
With this award, Grelet joins a distinguished group of recipients who have advanced MCI’s reputation as a national leader in translational cancer research.