#United States #San Francisco #Cancer Research #Grants #Yosemite

Yosemite's Commitment to Revolutionizing Cancer Care

Yosemite, a venture capital firm with a mission to transform cancer treatment through innovation and philanthropic efforts, recently announced that it has committed over $18 million in grants since its inception in 2023. The focus of this funding is to aid early-stage cancer research, filling a crucial gap in a landscape where academic researchers are increasingly challenged to secure conventional funding.

The organization's founder, Reed Jobs, emphasizes the importance of academic seed funding in advancing cancer care. He states, "Our donor-advised fund strategy allows us to support ambitious foundational work at its earliest stages and assist in transitioning promising scientific discoveries into practical applications."

Partnerships in Action

A notable project receiving support is the preclinical research conducted by Craig Crews from Yale University, which led to the establishment of Quarry Thera. This biotech firm is pioneering the development of small molecule drugs that target protein interactions in unprecedented ways to combat cancer and autoimmune diseases.

One of the cornerstones of Yosemite's grant activities is its partnership with the American Cancer Society, one of the foremost cancer research funding organizations in the U.S. Together, they pinpoint emerging research areas annually, ensuring that their efforts align with the forefront of cancer research.

Bill Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society, shares his enthusiasm for this collaboration: "We are excited to partner with Yosemite for the second year, enhancing our capacity to fund innovative projects that can have significant, practical implications for cancer patients." Past research areas they have funded include artificial intelligence's role in cancer research, the tumor microenvironment, cancer vaccines, and novel delivery methods for cancer-targeted toxins.

Among the noteworthy recipients of grants in the 2025 cycle are established scientists like Carolyn Bertozzi, Jennifer Doudna, and Stephen Elledge, alongside promising newcomers in the field.

Tangible Impacts

Early scientific achievements from their combined efforts showcase the program's effectiveness. For instance, a study led by Jeremiah Johnson’s team from MIT, recently published in Nature Biotechnology, highlights a groundbreaking antibody-drug delivery method that allows each antibody to transport a greater number of drug molecules than traditional conjugates, showing enhanced anti-tumor effects in preclinical trials for breast and ovarian cancer.

Johnson remarked, "This support enabled us to explore a high-risk, high-reward direction that would have been difficult to fund otherwise. The ACS-Yosemite partnership provided the necessary flexibility and momentum to expedite our research from concept to publication."

Expanding Healthcare Initiatives

In addition to foundational research support, Yosemite's donor-advised fund platform is actively funding healthcare initiatives aimed at enhancing cancer care delivery at leading institutions such as Mayo Clinic and City of Hope. These initiatives tackle significant challenges in oncology, striving for innovation throughout the cancer care spectrum.

Key focus areas include:

• - Enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency through advanced AI tools.
• - Utilizing new digital and physiological indicators to monitor patient health and anticipate disease risk.
• - Informing treatment decisions with integrated data and clinical insights.

At the Mayo Clinic, funding is facilitating advancements across clinical programs and research domains. Dr. Cheryl Willman, Executive Director of Mayo Clinic’s Cancer Programs, notes, "This philanthropic investment will revolutionize our approach to cancer research and care—from early detection to survivorship. We are grateful for the support that propels this vital work."

For City of Hope, these funds are accelerating the shift from research to standard clinical practice. Dr. John Carpten, Chief Scientific Officer at City of Hope, states, "A partnership-driven approach aligns with our mission to translate groundbreaking discoveries into large-scale impacts. By supporting ambitious teams in AI, diagnostics, and care delivery, we can quicken the integration of groundbreaking research into everyday clinical practice for patients needing urgent care today."

Looking Forward

Yosemite's innovative blend of grant-making and investment strategies positions it as a vital supporter of early-stage cancer research and healthcare initiatives. As competition for academic funding intensifies, their philanthropic contributions will continue to play a crucial role in underwriting foundational research that shapes future translational and clinical practices. For further details, please reach out via email at [email protected].

About Yosemite

Yosemite collaborates with pioneering researchers and visionary entrepreneurs committed to making cancer non-lethal in our lifetime. Through its donor-advised fund and investment platform, Yosemite fuels innovations across the oncology ecosystem, from early-stage academic research to advanced corporate solutions, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Their extensive scientific networks facilitate the building and funding of companies dedicated to translating groundbreaking discoveries into superior therapies and patient experiences. For more information, visit yosemite.co.