We are researchers. The biotechnology company VANUDIS was founded to find medical solutions for severe disease states and ultimately to offer new treatment options for patients with severe oncological and infectious diseases. We are at the bench in the laboratory, evaluating plots and always looking straight ahead through the microscope.

In order not to lose sight of the reason why we do what we do, our CEO Prof. Jürgen Krauss confronted us with one of his patients at the end-of-year retreat. Prof. Krauss is a doctor, a physician with a passion for his work and an interest in the individual fates of his patients. The patient, an older gentleman and so-called long-term survivor, talked about his fight against cancer: having reached the end of the line and having exhausted all other treatment options, he is now considered “cured”. The road to recovery was difficult and paved with many disappointments; but with the trust in the tireless doctor at his side, giving up was never an option. 

You have to move, his doctor would have said over and over again; hiking, walking. And his son sitting there confirms. Yes, after initial difficulties, his father only took a few steps at first. But his circles grew larger and larger; and then suddenly he was walking more than he was lying or sitting. Actually, from then on he was always on the move. And that's right: after the patient participation, we see the old gentleman through the large glass windows of the conference hall of our retreat, making his way through colorful autumn leaves. Step by step along the edge of the forest, with a short break at the goat gate, where the stubborn animals nudge their snouts against his hands, finally following the bend and disappearing into the forest.

The Greek physician Hippocrates already knew 2500 years ago: “If we could give each individual the right amount of food and exercise, we would have found the safest way to recovery.” Just how right he was, especially with regard to cancer patients, has become increasingly clear in recent years. Physical activity has a direct influence on the course of cancer and the risk of relapse, as well as on the development of cancer. Since physical activity stimulates almost all organ systems and also affects the brain, and it affects the factors underlying cancer development. It promotes blood flow throughout the body and strengthens the immune system, which in turn makes it more difficult for cancer cells to survive. Cancer cells are also “crazy” about sugar and depend on glucose for their growth, which the body uses more of during physical activity, boosting the energy balance instead. At the same time, the levels of sex hormones and growth factors that promote cancer development are reduced. The Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid) therefore recommends 60 minutes of exercise three times a week. Exercise or structured physical training can help to alleviate or even avoid complications and side effects during and after cancer therapy. In addition, tumor patients can positively influence their subjective well-being through exercise and sport. 

That's reason enough to follow Prof. Joachim Wiskemann's (NCT) request and accept the invitation to “Row against Cancer”. Rowing is one of the few sports that uses almost all muscle groups, thereby training strength, endurance, coordination, circulation and the heart. All the main muscle groups are trained. It is a common misconception that rowing mainly trains the upper body. For people who want to get fitter and stronger or burn calories quickly, rowing is more efficient than running because it uses 85% of the body's total muscle mass. Using the entire body when rowing places high demands on the aerobic and anaerobic systems of the body. The more the body is challenged, the more it has to adapt. Over time, the body forms more capillaries to carry blood and oxygen to the working muscles, the muscles around the heart increase in strength and size, and the lungs increase the efficiency of oxygen uptake from the air. That's a promising outlook.

A mixed team of three women and one man was quickly found among the staff and was also ready to train for the rowing boat race on September 7. Because here, too, concentration and teamwork are essential to propel the boat forward through coordinated, rhythmic strokes of the oars.

A stroke begins with an explosive leg kick that engages the quadriceps, calves, and glutes to extend the knees and hips. After these major muscle groups have done their work, the back, lateral and anterior abdominal muscles tighten and stabilize the trunk before the trapezius muscles, latissimus dorsi and arm muscles complete the movement when they pull the handle towards the body during the final pull. This entire sequence, which involves nine major muscle groups, is repeated 20 to 30 times per minute at a normal rowing speed, burning twice as many calories as cycling.

The most difficult part, however, is getting the boat into the right position at the starting point, according to Michael Konradi, the only man in the team's boat, which has the starting number 81. This explains the initial difficulties when our team seemed to be anchored at the starting point while the other boats had already started. But suddenly, we spectators had already put our hands in our hair to pull it out, the VANUDIS team got moving. Determined and focused, it continuously increased its speed to make up for lost time at the start and catch up with the other boats. Friends and family on the shore cheered, while the commentator of the regatta almost lost his voice with enthusiasm: Team VANUDIS! A high start! They are catching up – they don't seem to care about the lead of the others – now! The first competitor has already been overtaken! And they continue to pick up speed! Unbelievable! And while he shouted such short, choppy sentences into his megaphone, our team beat the rudder blades into the calcium-rich, soapy, chalky Neckar water until it seemed to foam in the glistening sun and reached the front line in the last few meters: together with the designated favorite. 

It was a neck-and-neck race. Ultimately, it was said that photo evidence would have to be provided to determine the winning team. For us, it was not just about winning, but especially about taking part and making our contribution. We are not competitive athletes. We are scientists developing novel classes of immunotherapeutics, including cell therapies, ImmunoRNAs and antibody therapeutics derived from the innate immune system. We are rowing against cancer!