Million Dollar Bike Ride (MDBR) Grant

Team Telomere's flagship research grant program that funds patient-centered research leading to better diagnostics, management strategies, and effective treatments for Telomere Biology Disorders.

Background: The MDBR program started as Team Josh's DCO Riders in 2015, in honor of Joshua Friedman who passed away in 2011 from Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC). Josh's lasting legacy has helped raise over $580,000 in research funding.

Focus Areas:

• Research initiatives addressing critical gaps in understanding Telomere Biology Disorders
• Interdisciplinary, translational, and/or clinical research efforts
• Development of therapies and strategies to diagnose, manage, treat, or cure TBDs

Geographic Scope: United States and international

Historical Award Recipients (2016-2022):

• 2022: Coleman Lindsley, MD, PhD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) - $62,528
• 2021: Suneet Agarwal, MD, PhD (Boston Children's Hospital) - $65,445
• 2020: Judy Wong, PhD (University of British Columbia) - $66,440
• 2019: Daria Babushok MD, PhD (University of Pennsylvania) - $62,664
• 2018: Brad Johnson MD, PhD and Chris Lengner PhD (University of Pennsylvania) - $50,000
• 2017: Suneet Agarwal, MD, PhD (Boston Children's Hospital) - $100,373
• 2016: Suneet Agarwal, MD, PhD (Boston Children's Hospital) - $50,000