Donations are changing cancer research as we know it
When you commit to becoming an Empire State Ride road warrior, you’re impacting the future of cancer research and sparking new hope for cancer patients. The funds you raise support cutting-edge cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, America’s first cancer center dedicated to research, and ultimately influence how we treat all kinds of cancer, everywhere.
The Roswell Park difference
Roswell Park is one of only 4% of cancer centers designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute and was recently awarded the highest possible rating — “Exceptional” — during its five-year Cancer Center Support Grant renewal. This recognition underscores the center’s commitment to providing incredible patient care and working toward the end of cancer as we know it.
For every dollar donated to Empire State Ride, Roswell Park is able to leverage an additional $23 from external grants to bolster cancer research. Your impact goes a long way!
International collaboration
When you fundraise for or donate to Roswell Park through Empire State Ride, you’re ultimately making a worldwide impact. Innovative research projects and groundbreaking clinical trials are expensive and dollars raised through fundraisers like Empire State Ride transform ideas and hypotheses into new treatments and exceptional care.
Through regional, national and global collaboration, the funds that come to Roswell Park spearhead efforts that will change the way we prevent, diagnose and treat cancers of all kinds everywhere. After all, we’re all on the same side in the fight against cancer.
Check out these three innovative breakthroughs made possible, in part, by the funds raised through Empire State Ride.
Pioneering treatment
Roswell Park is on the cutting edge of cancer treatment and positioned to become a global destination for innovative cancer care like cellular therapy, an emerging and rapidly expanding form of immunotherapy. The pioneering minds at Roswell Park are leading breakthrough studies examining promising new cellular therapy techniques and applications that have potential to bring more effective, less invasive treatment options to patients.
As part of Roswell Park’s commitment to advancing cell therapy, the GMP Engineering & Cell Manufacturing (GEM) Facility opened in January 2025, bringing 14 new cell manufacturing spaces — also called clean rooms — to expand the six already on campus. This robust new space allows for the in-house production of cells to drive innovation in cell therapy. The GEM Facility is the first of its kind in New York State and will bring treatments and innovations to more patients in New York and across the country faster than ever.
Support from ESR brings these brilliant contributions to cancer patients and empowers researchers to imagine new ways to treat and cure cancers.
Breakthrough clinical trials
Research for the innovative brain cancer vaccine, SurVaxM, began more than a decade ago in the labs of Roswell Park, with clinical trials starting in 2012. The vaccine uses the innate genius of a patient’s immune system to target a protein called survivin, which helps cancer cells survive. Findings from a single-arm phase 2A study showed that the vaccine, when combined with standard therapy, resulted in significantly longer survival compared to standard therapy alone. In 2024, SurVaxM received Fast-Track status from FDA.
Today, the phase 2B randomized SURVIVE trial is currently underway at Roswell Park and other centers. (not accepting new patients). SurVaxM is also being evaluated in early-phase studies of adult patients with multiple myeloma (not accepting new patients), some neuroendocrine tumors and in pediatric patients with certain types of brain tumors.
Roswell Park Liquid Biopsy
The Roswell Park Liquid Biopsy, developed by Roswell Park’s Department of Pathology, has the power to detect trace amounts of cancer in the blood to help inform care teams about how they should proceed with an individual patient’s treatment. It can also become part of a survivor’s annual routine check-up with their primary care physician to test for cancer recurrence. Two phase 1 studies, funded in part by donations, are already underway at Roswell Park. This advancement could be a convenient and cost-effective alternative for patients who need answers faster. Cancer doesn’t wait, and neither can we.
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Funds raised through Empire State Ride are managed by the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which manages all donations made to Roswell Park. The Foundation ensures that every donation is put to the best possible use. It’s earned the highest possible rating on Charity Navigator for nine consecutive years.
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You make a difference!
When you make the commitment to become an Empire State Ride road warrior, you’re making an impact on the future of cancer research and saving lives. The funds raised by our riders support cutting-edge cancer research at America’s first cancer center dedicated to research, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Clinical trials.
When clinical trials identify effective treatments, these treatments will eventually become the new standard of care that will be offered to future patients. One of the latest clinical trials Roswell Park is leading is SurVaxM, an innovative brain cancer vaccine.
This trial is bringing hope to individuals battling some of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. This unique immunotherapy treatment created at Roswell Park will soon impact cancer patients across the country, using the body’s own immune system to fight the harmful cells.
