This sense of urgency has motivated Sean Parker, entrepreneur and founder of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, to change the way research is conducted. Through his namesake institute, Parker brings together top cancer research institutions from around the country in the spirit of collaboration, inviting those researchers and scientists to share data and findings, and ultimately accelerating the impacts of research breakthroughs. The faster this happens, the faster the gap between scientific research and cancer medicine can be closed. Revolutions in cancer care are also changing how biopharmaceutical companies view cancer as a disease. However, he doesn’t shy away from the long road ahead. “It’s easier to put someone on Mars, than it is to cure someone with cancer.” Ultimately, this new era of cancer treatment, while not without its challenges, remains inspiring to many in the field. “We’re on the cusp of the day when you take your children to a physical, and they’re going to get vaccinated against specific cancers…there’s enormous change on the horizon,” says Alles.