About FACS
The Foundation exists to solve a solvable problem.
There's an information gap.
FACS was founded by a rheumatologist who works in an oncology department where she treats cancer patients who’ve fallen into that gap, often suffering profoundly and almost always scared and confused. She witnessed the patients’ incredible improvement on rheumatologic medications, and she became passionate about making sure that all immunotherapy patients have access to those solutions — that no patients are left alone in the gap.
We’re not the first to discover this gap. Other cancer teams have recognized and responded to the problem by bringing autoimmune specialists into the fold; but this care is available in only a handful of major cancer centers. For cancer patients being treated outside these centers, this care is largely out of reach. And for most cancer teams outside these major centers, this type of care is not even on their radar. The information simply hasn’t reached them yet. They’re in a sort of gap of their own.
So, we're building a bridge.
Our foundation exists to bridge that gap: to get this information to care teams and patients who need it and to keep spreading that information until collaborative cancer care has become the norm.
The Foundation for Autoimmune & Cancer Support is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, established in 2025, with The Columbus Foundation serving as its financial bridge to manage donations and provide nonprofit management resources.
OUR MISSION
It’s our mission to create awareness that immune-related side effects can be managed; to provide resources that empower patients and physicians to take action; and to advocate for a multidisciplinary standard of care.
FUNDING DIRECTLY ENABLES
- A consistent, compelling social media presence to drive general awareness
- An FACS Patient Ambassador program empowering our patient experts to engage online, creating awareness among patient communities
- Creation and marketing of CME courses to expand and deepen understanding of irAEs and the need for collaborative care
- Healthcare conference presentations to share information and advancements in the management of irAEs
You Can Help Us Bridge the Gap
Support our awareness and education initiatives that connect patients with the help they need.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We offer tiered sponsorships for health systems, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and strategic partners, which can be aimed to support specific educational and awareness initiatives.
Collaboration Opportunities
We partner with pharma and biotech companies to provide trial recruitment, real-world data, educational partnerships, and insight into patient-reported outcomes.
Our Leadership Team
Founder/Board President
Dr. Alexa Meara is the Director of the Immunotherapy Management Clinic at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James. A board-certified rheumatologist, Dr. Meara works with oncologists to manage the side effects of immunotherapy and CAR-T. Her research is dedicated to defining how cancer treatments disrupt the immune system to create autoimmune diseases.
Board Member
Dr. Kara Corps is a board-certified comparative veterinary immunopathologist, a breast cancer survivor, and an advocate for patients and survivors. She is an associate professor in the The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Director of the Comparative Pathology and Digital Imaging Shared Resource in the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Board Member
Jennifer Dauer is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, where she drives transformative initiatives focused on improving patient outcomes and access to care. Her 26 years at Procter & Gamble, along with her work with start-ups through the CincyTech venture capital group, bring critical expertise in identifying market opportunities and launching new ventures.
Board Member
Dr. Pauline Funchain is a board-certified medical oncologist and an associate professor at Stanford Medicine, specializing in melanoma and cutaneous malignancies. She also serves as the Associate Director for Cancer Research Training and Education, Associate Program Director of the Hematology and Oncology Fellowship, Co-Director of the Immunotherapy Toxicity Program, and Co-Director of the Skin Cancer Genomics Program at Stanford Medicine.
Board Member
Monica Welt is a recognized legal and business leader with 20+ years counseling Fortune 100 clients and executive management teams, advising both public companies and nonprofit boards on strategic business, legal and risks at critical points of transition. She is General Counsel for the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and previously served as Chief Compliance & Sustainability Officer and Deputy General Counsel of Big Lots, Inc.
We'd Like to Thank Our Generous Sponsors
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Videos
Thriving Talks at Ohio State University
Dr. Alexa Meara and Dr. Kimryn Rathmell from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center discuss cancer immunotherapy side effects and how tailored treatments help improve quality of life.
Rich's Experience With Immunotherapy Side Effects
Rich speaks at the Thriving Talks event. (Note: The body’s response to immunotherapy treatment is highly individualized; your response to the treatment mentioned here might be entirely different.)
