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Aerial view of the Roswell Park campus in Buffalo, New York

#ESR23

Why we ride.

The Empire State Ride is more than a ride; it’s an adventure that aims to end cancer for good.

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.

A woman smiles at the Victory Bell inside Roswell Park
Dr. Brentjens smiles in a headshot

Pioneering treatment.

Roswell Park is on the cutting edge of cancer treatments, with pioneering leadership, researchers and clinicians. Thanks to your support, Roswell Park attracts leading minds like one of the most influential and accomplished figures in the field of cancer immunotherapy, Renier Brentjens, MD, PhD, Deputy Director.

Dr. Brentjens is a pioneering cancer researcher who helped bring about the first FDA-approved cellular therapies to incorporate adoptive cell transfer: CAR T-cell therapy, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. Under Dr. Brentjens’ leadership, Roswell Park is leading research and clinical trials in immunotherapy treatments that are the latest advancements in cancer care. Support of ESR brings these brilliant contributions to cancer patients and empowers them to imagine new ways to treat and prevent cancers.

Two men look through microscopes at Roswell Park

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.

The adult clinical trial for SurVaxM has advanced into phase 2B for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. The randomized, multicenter trial is being offered to over 250 patients in 15 centers in the U.S. and China.

Kids battling brain cancers will also have a chance to see how SurVaxM can help them. Roswell Park is partnering with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, which will expand the current trial to reach cancer centers across the U.S. and Canada. Through this phase 1 trial, which began in early 2022, pediatric patients will have a chance to take advantage of this vaccine which had previously only been available in Buffalo.

Two Roswell scientists perform a laboratory procedure to study cell stress
Dr. Gudkov and a woman in a lab coat examine petri dishes

International collaboration.

Researchers at Roswell Park are committed to sharing knowledge and resources with leaders around the world. A phase 1 pediatric clinical trial of a new anticancer drug, curaxin, is moving forward thanks to donor support. Roswell Park is partnering with Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia and the National Cancer Institute’s Children’s Oncology Group (COG) in an international pediatric trial.

Within COG, there are over 40 member sites dedicated to early phase clinical trials for children across the U.S., Canada and Australia. Roswell Park will be participating due to the central role of key researchers — Andrei Gudkov, PhD, DSci, and Katerina Gurova, MD, PhD,— who discovered the molecules used to develop this drug. The donor-supported pediatric clinical trial will include all solid cancers and lymphoma

Roswell Park Alliance Foundation logo

Funds raised through the 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 seven consecutive years.