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Typically a 10-20 percent decline in fitness is observed understand everything from how a person is feeling
for someone undergoing chemotherapy—a decline down to what is happening at a molecular level in
typically seen in 10 to 20 years of normal aging! In this their cells. If you go for cancer treatment today, they’ll
person we actually saw a 20 percent improvement.” sequence your tumor and give you therapies based on
The patient recently had his five-year post-diagnosis that. I think we need to take same approach with
anniversary. “Of course, many factors are contributing exercise. Can we customize exercise to maximize
to the success in this example but I do believe exercise outcomes for cancer prevention and recovery?”
played an important part,” says Jones. “It’s pretty incredible.” If anyone can answer that question, it’s Jones. He has
Looking ahead, Jones says, “I think we’re on the verge an impressive track record of securing competitive
of something very special.” Instead of the standard federal grants to fund a constant stream of research for
approach to clinical trials—have one group that the past 20 years and publication of more than 250
scientific papers in this area. A major key of the success
of his program, he says, was a gift from a private
foundation. A foundation in Norway gave him $2MM of
“During cancer treatment people are unrestricted funds when he first started. “Federal funding
typically told to rest, and it’s quite possibly rates are less than eight percent at present,” he says.

the worst advice we could be giving.” “That gift allowed us to do the pilot projects, so then
we had exciting things to demonstrate in order to get
the federal grants, which then allows us to do the big,
practice changing studies.”
exercises and one control group that doesn’t, and “Our goal is to change practice, such that when
compare outcomes—he wants to get much more someone asks their doctor about things they can do, the
personalized. Because, he points out, “If you give the doctor will be able to refer the individual to an exercise
same exercise prescription to 50 people, you’ll get 50 specialist to provide a tailored exercise regimen, in the
different responses. We want to understand individual same way it is done when someone is diagnosed with
response at different ‘levels.’ In other words, we want to diabetes or heart disease.” ✦

The Big Studies That Change
Medicine: Private philanthropy

makes it possible.

Only a small fraction of medical research grants actually
get federal funding, which makes private philanthropy
indispensable for research like Dr. Lee Jones is doing.
When Jones first started his exercise oncology studies,
a foundation in Norway gave him $2MM of unrestricted
funds. “That allowed us to do the pilot projects, so then
we had exciting things to demonstrate in order to get
the federal grants, which then allows us to do the big,
practice changing studies.”
If the idea of funding practice-changing research
excites you, Healthnetwork Foundation can help connect
you to the right people and places so your gift will make
the most impact and have deep meaning for you.
To get the conversation started, contact Megan
Frankel, Healthnetwork Foundation President, at
+1 440-264-1923 or mfrankel@healthnetworkfoundation.org.

Stock image. Photos and data from the Lee Jones Lab can be
seen at mskcc.org/research-areas/labs/lee-jones

One Call Starts It All +1 (866) 968-2467 +1 (440) 893-0830 13