CLEVELAND — After five years of pharmaceutical companies rejecting her research proposal, Dr. Allison Winter finally found hope through VeloSano , the Cleveland Clinic's year-round cancer fundraising initiative.

Winter, a lymphoma specialist serving her first year as VeloSano's medical director, secured a pilot grant to study a breakthrough treatment for central nervous system lymphoma, one of the most challenging cancers to treat.

"Despite five years of effort, I have not been able to get the project up and running," Winter explained during an interview. "So this year, I am incredibly grateful that my project was chosen so that I can get this trial of a new drug to these patients who need it so badly."

Central nervous system lymphoma affects the brain, spinal cord, spinal fluid o

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