Cycle For Survival's Gift This December: A Super Microscope To Outsmart Cancer

NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cycle for Survival, the movement to beat rare cancers, is aiming to raise $2.5 million during their December Challenge campaign. This fundraising effort includes support for a highly advanced light sheet fluorescence microscope (LSFM) that will elevate the way researchers in the Developmental Biology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI) are studying the root causes of cancer. SKI is the experimental research arm of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).

Before the existence of LSFM technology, it was considered impossible to capture high-quality images of biological processes such as organ development at the single cell level. Because cells are the building blocks of organs and tissues, understanding their behavior — and how this behavior can go awry — is crucial to MSK's mission to prevent, control and ultimately cure cancer.

This advanced microscope system uses a combination of high-speed, three-dimensional image data acquisition and leading-edge adaptive optics technology. The result: it's gentle enough to observe delicate samples without causing them damage, and fast enough to efficiently explore active biological processes unfold in real time. Scientists in the SKI Developmental Biology Program will use a suite of sophisticated software to analyze the extraordinary amount of data captured by the microscope, turning a task that would manually take years into one that can be completed in just days.

"The LSFM is a transformative technology, and thanks to Cycle for Survival, we will be equipped to study cell behavior in a novel way. Our goal is to unravel the biological blueprint of cancer. We want to understand more about how communities of cells build organs — and how cells in organs can become cancerous — and translate this research into new and better treatments for patients," said Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis, PhD, Chair of the Developmental Biology Program at SKI. "Cycle for Survival is helping to make the impossible possible. We'll be able to produce meaningful insights in a fraction of the time."

Cycle for Survival's December Challenge is an annual fundraising push to acquire a groundbreaking type of technology as part of the larger peer-to-peer fundraising program. About 37,500 participants will ride in one of 80 indoor team cycling events happening across the country in January, February and March. All are welcome to join by registering a team, or supporting with a donation.

With support from Equinox, sponsors and the dedicated community of participants and donors, Cycle for Survival funds research that is driving global change for rare cancer treatments. One hundred percent of every dollar raised goes to rare cancer research and clinical trials led by MSK, which owns and operates Cycle for Survival. To read about research breakthroughs made possible because of Cycle for Survival funding, go to cycleforsurvival.org/what-you-fund or visit cycleforsurvival.org to learn more.

MORE INFORMATION

About Cycle for Survival
Join the Battle. Cycle for Survival is the movement to beat rare cancers. Since 2007, Cycle for Survival has raised $222 million through its signature indoor team cycling events across the United States to help fund pioneering rare cancer research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which owns and operates Cycle for Survival. 100 percent of every donation funds rare cancer research. About half of all cancer patients are fighting a rare cancer, and they often face limited or no treatment options. Together with the movement's founding partner, Equinox, Cycle for Survival has supported innovative clinical trials, research studies and major scientific initiatives. For a list of events, research updates and additional information, visit https://www.cycleforsurvival.org and follow Cycle for Survival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

About Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — the world's oldest and largest private cancer center — has devoted more than 130 years to exceptional patient care, innovative research, and outstanding educational programs. Today, we are one of 51 National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, with state-of-the-art science flourishing side-by-side with clinical studies and treatment. The close collaboration between our physicians and scientists is one of our unique strengths, enabling us to provide patients with the best care available as we work to discover more effective strategies to prevent, control, and cure cancer. Our education programs train future physicians and scientists, and the knowledge and experience they gain at Memorial Sloan Kettering has an impact on cancer treatment and biomedical research around the world.

About Equinox
IT'S NOT FITNESS. IT'S LIFE: Founded in 1991, Equinox was built on the notion that fitness can empower a life well-lived and foster a strong community of high performance individuals. Nearly 30 years later, Equinox continues to lead and disrupt the category it singularly defined, operating over 100 full-service Clubs globally across major US cities including New York, LA, Miami and San Francisco as well as London, Toronto and Vancouver, each featuring bespoke design in an unparalleled luxury environment. Grounded in the core tenets of Movement, Nutrition and Regeneration and backed by a Health Advisory Board of industry-leading experts across these disciplines, the company offers a holistic approach to fitness, inclusive of Equinox signature group fitness classes, personal training, Pilates, spa services, apparel, experiential travel and food & beverage. In July 2019, Equinox unveiled Equinox Hotels as a true culmination of its lifestyle brand promise, redefining the luxury hospitality experience to be a seamless extension of high performance living. For more information, visit www.equinox.com.

CONTACT:
Mary Conway
MConway@MKCStrategies.com
516-606-6545

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cycle-for-survivals-gift-this-december-a-super-microscope-to-outsmart-cancer-300976926.html

SOURCE Cycle for Survival