Understanding the ‘Why’ Behind Cancer and Neurological Disease

Jay Farner’s grandfather developed Parkinson’s disease in his late 60s — a turning point for the tool and die maker who had always made a living with his hands.

“I remember my grandfather telling me that his hands were all he knew how to use and he couldn’t use them anymore,” Farner says. “It was incredibly hard to watch him go through that, especially as the disease progressed into Lewy body dementia.”

Now, another close family member is navigating a form of dementia that affects memory. He can point to a growing list of family and friends facing similar diagnoses.

These experiences inspired Farner to support the Cleveland Clinic Brain Study, a 20-year, 200,000-person study to identify early indicators of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s long before symptoms appear. One in every six people worldwide lives with a neurological disease, but the medical community has largely focused on managing symptoms and slowing progression rather than preventing and curing disease altogether.

"The Brain Study aims to change the future of neurology by detecting disease in the silent phase,” says Andre Machado, MD, PhD, Chair of the Neurological Institute and the Charles and Christine Carroll Family Endowed Chair in Functional Neurosurgery. “We are bringing together researchers, clinicians, patients and supporters to build a foundation for prevention that was once thought impossible.”

Making a Measurable Impact

A Michigan native, Farner frequently visited Cleveland during his 27-year tenure as Vice Chairman and CEO of Rocket Companies (formerly Quicken Loans). In 2023, he retired from Rocket Companies and founded Ronin Capital Partners, where he works alongside his partner, Nicole Vallianatos. Together, he and Vallianatos founded the Jay Farner Family Foundation on the belief that “kindness, research, and responsible care can transform lives.”

Grounded in his own experiences as a patient, Farner believed Cleveland Clinic was uniquely positioned to translate philanthropic investment into measurable impact. He and Vallianatos initially supported pediatric cancer research through a matching gift for VeloSano Trike & Bike. From there, their giving expanded to include breast cancer research—an area with personal significance for Vallianatos.

When Vallianatos was in college, her mother joined the 1 in 8 women who will face the disease in her lifetime. After undergoing treatment and going into remission, the cancer returned a decade later. She underwent a double mastectomy and recovered again, but she lives with lymphedema in the aftermath.

“Breast cancer is deeply personal for my family and for many families I meet," says Vallianatos. “I want to be part of the mission to expand access to care and improve outcomes for patients like my mother.”

A Light Bulb Moment

Farner has long supported research that accelerates the shift from standard treatment to genetically informed, personalized therapies.

“We have seen real momentum in breast cancer treatment — but cancer is also evolving,” he says. “People are getting diagnosed at younger ages.”

For Farner and Vallianatos, fighting both cancer and neurological disease hinges on going beyond treatment alone and uncovering their root causes. In Dr. Machado and his team, they found like-minded collaborators. They recently toured Dr. Machado’s lab, where they witnessed a gait and balance module that analyzes patients’ stride length, speed and other characteristics to determine risk factors for neurological disease.

“That was a light bulb moment for me,” Farner remembers. “It made me think about how easy it is to rationalize memory issues. But when you have the data in front of you, you can act on it.”

Cleveland Clinic's Brain Study

Launched in 2022, the study relies on the support of donors like Farner and Vallianatos to reach its full potential.

“Philanthropic support will play a vital role in accelerating discoveries that fundamentally change how we diagnose and treat neurological diseases,” says Dr. Machado. “We are grateful for donors with the vision to invest now in better neurological care for generations to come.”

Whether they are investing in a new business venture or research initiative, Farner and Vallianatos look for an extraordinary level of focus and commitment. “We invest in great people who build great teams and take ownership of outcomes,” explains Farner.

“Every time we meet a doctor at Cleveland Clinic, we sense a deep commitment to their mission,” he says. “That reassures us that our dollars are being spent wisely. We hope this is the start of a long and meaningful journey.”

June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month. Please join Jay and Nicole in helping to change how neurological diseases are diagnosed and treated by making a gift today.