4th Annual Transform Your Life & Health Luncheon
Wed, Sep 24
|River Oaks Country Club
Event Chairs: Rochelle Bullock & Laura Wareing Wheless Guest Speaker: Jim Ray, Ph.D.
Time & Location:
Sep 24, 2025, 12:00 PM
River Oaks Country Club, Houston, TX
Event Details:
On September 24, Jane’s Joyride’s 4th annual Transform Your Life & Health Luncheon welcomed 150 guests to River Oaks Country Club for an inspiring presentation by Jim Ray, Ph.D., Executive Director of Neuroscience Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Institute of Applied Cancer Sciences and leader of the Belfer Neurodegeneration Consortium.
Dr. Ray shared a fascinating and hopeful look at the science behind Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, explaining how Alzheimer’s disease develops, why genetics and lifestyle matter, and how new treatments—including FDA-approved drugs and lifestyle-based prevention studies—are changing what’s possible for patients and families. He also touched on the exciting new field of cancer neuroscience, which explores the two-way connection between cancer and the nervous system, with the potential to transform cancer care in the years ahead.
This powerful program was made possible through the leadership of our amazing chairs, Rochelle Bullock and Laura Wareing Wheless, whose vision and dedication helped make the luncheon our most successful yet. Together, with their support and the generosity of our community, we exceeded our fundraising goal and built new momentum for Jane’s Joyride’s mission to support education, accelerate research, and raise awareness in the pursuit of long-term healthy living.
Our Speaker:
Jim Ray, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of Neuroscience Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Institute of Applied Cancer Sciences (IACS) and the leader of the Belfer Neurodegeneration Consortium (BNDC). Launched in 2012, the BNDC unites MD Anderson, MIT, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Baylor College of Medicine, and others to unravel the biology of neurodegenerative diseases and accelerate transformative therapies.
Under Dr. Ray’s strategic direction, the BNDC secured $20 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas in 2018 to advance novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. He also spearheaded MD Anderson’s launch of a biotech venture dedicated to developing therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, bridging cutting-edge research with clinical impact.
With a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Ray brings over twenty years of experience in pharmaceutical and biotech innovation. His leadership roles at Merck, Envoy Therapeutics, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals have shaped multiple drug discovery programs. A prolific researcher, Dr. Ray has authored numerous publications and holds several patents, solidifying his reputation as a trailblazer in the field of neuroscience.