Built by Bikes: How the Audaxity Community Turned a Ride Into a Cancer Research Training Program
When the Audaxity community raised $1,062,344, it changed the trajectory of cancer research at MCW. Not by funding a single experiment, but by backing the next generation of scientists who will lead dozens over the course of their careers.
That commitment launched a new Clinical Research Fellowship Program to support early-career physician-scientists at a pivotal stage in their training.
For years, MCW has trained exceptional clinicians who care for cancer patients and learn from leading investigators. What it did not have was a dedicated, structured pathway to help those trainees build lasting research careers while still in training.
Now it does.
$450,000 from the inaugural ride is directly supporting fellows who want to build careers that combine patient care and discovery. Instead of trying to fit research into already demanding schedules, they now have dedicated time to focus, build momentum, and pursue meaningful cancer research.
“These are people who are fairly far along in their training, and many haven’t made a final career decision yet. It’s hard to choose an academic research path without real support at that stage. That’s exactly what this program is designed to do,” said Dr. Stu Wong, Director of the Clinical Research Fellowship Program.
The program also strengthens the Cancer Center’s long-term research pipeline. National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32 programs provide competitive, time-limited federal funding to support research training across the country. They play an important role, but they are not designed to launch new institutional initiatives on their own. Audaxity funding gives the Center the flexibility to build something durable and aligned with its long-term priorities.
“We recruit established investigators all the time. What we didn’t have, until now, was a way to intentionally support early-career scientists while in training. The program will bring us more in line with top cancer centers and make us a destination,” said Dr. Gustavo Leone, Director of the MCW Cancer Center.
In the near term, fellows will strengthen Cancer Center research already underway. Over time, they will become the investigators, clinical trial leaders, and mentors who shape how cancer care evolves. That is the multiplier effect of investing in people.
Beyond the fellowship, Audaxity funding is advancing collaborative research through Our Patient Project and expanding access to cancer care and resources across Wisconsin. That’s how a community scales progress.
