CLEVELAND, Ohio — VeloSano is an organization that funds cancer research at the Cleveland Clinic. Each year, their largest fundraiser is Bike to Cure weekend. It’s going to be a bit different this year because this time, it’s virtual—but it’s still a special occasion.
“It was really transformative for me to realize that you can come together in that way for a charity ride. And really, you know, it’s more than a fundraiser because you kind of go through an experience together,” said Dr. Jake Scott, a Cleveland Clinic Oncology Researcher. “I think that the next generation of cures are going to come from the outside the box thinking, I don’t think the next generation of cures are going to come from more of the same.”
VeloSano plays an important role in research funding.
“VeloSano really fills a unique void, because in order to get to that level where you really are creating sustained 5- to 10-year research programs, you need to have not just good ideas, not just solid training, but you need to have pilot data that shows that you’re otherwise, what would be crazy ideas, are valid.”
Scott said without VeloSano granting money to researchers to try out their ideas, they often wouldn’t get larger funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH). Something he knows first-hand with his studies on evolutionary therapy.
“They’re like, ‘That’s in our wheelhouse!’ They put down some money to fund me. We built the device, it worked, we’re able to then use that to show the NIH, hey, this is real. And we were able to get a $4 million grant on top of that, and so that’s small investment from VeloSano turned into a large endeavor and really has been the cornerstone of my early career,” Scott said.
In addition to cancer research and working to change the lives of cancer patients, Scott said VeloSano is a community.
“It really is a focal point of the year for me. Not just because they fund research for my lab, which they do, which is great. Not just because I like biking now, and I have friends in that community I do—it’s great. But really, because it becomes the sort of focal point where you can really take the time out to focus on this cause to focus on this mission, together with a bunch of like-minded folks who are really willing to give a lot,” Scott said.
