Cancer Vaccine Institute News

On the Cancer Research Frontier is a series spotlighting the scientists, doctors, nurses, patients, and philanthropists at the Cancer Vaccine Institute. Join us in meeting the brilliant minds behind our cancer vaccines and immunotherapies as they share their professional journeys and personal stories. For 17 years, Doreen Higgins was often one of the first people participants met when considering a Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) clinical trial. Before they made the decision

The first half of 2026 has been an exciting one at the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI), and we are proud to share the progress we’ve made in our Midyear Review. We have six clinical trials actively recruiting, with four additional studies opening soon. Our faculty and research teams have been recognized through competitive awards, invited presentations, and impactful scientific publications. These achievements highlight the significance of our work and elevate the visibility o

Photo Credits: Lisa Stromme Warren The Cancer Vaccine Institute is proud to celebrate Dr. Nora Disis, CVI Director, on her selection as a 2026 Fellow of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). This distinction honors scientific leaders whose work has made significant contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Disis joins a distinguished class of scientific leaders who have made contributions that have shaped cancer immuno

Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI), recently joined Dr. Katherine Glass, host of the European Medical Journal’s (EMJ) Onc Now podcast, to discuss the evolving field of cancer vaccines and the future of immunotherapy.

“Finance. Focus. Fortitude. Fearlessness.” These four words have guided a career that has helped shape the future of cancer vaccines. Dr. Nora Disis, CVI Director, Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington and Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Editor-In-Chief of JAMA Oncology and Deputy Editor of JAMA, joins Dr. Robert Camidge to discuss her remarkable career and the future of cancer vaccines. How This Is Building Me is a podcast that focuses on scientists and researchers

On the Cancer Research Frontier is a series spotlighting the scientists, doctors, nurses, patients, and philanthropists at the Cancer Vaccine Institute. Join us in meeting the brilliant minds behind our cancer vaccines and immunotherapies as they share their professional journeys and personal stories. “If you have truly found something that compels you to work really hard, that can carry you in a huge way.” Dr. Brie Chun wears many hats: researcher, physician, climber, and mo

Research from the Cancer Vaccine Institute and others points to a near-term future in which cancer vaccines will play an instrumental role in managing cancer. Therapeutic cancer vaccines are designed to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. A key part of this response is generating T-cells, immune cells, that specifically recognize cancer proteins and create a cancer-killing immune response. Some T-cells become “memory” T-cells, remaining in the body long

The Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) is advancing the emerging field of cancer research, developing vaccines to intercept cancer before it becomes invasive. We have developed WOKVAC, a DNA-based vaccine designed to target three proteins - HER2, IGFBP-2, and IGF-1R - highly expressed in most Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), a preinvasive form of breast cancer. Although not immediately life-threatening, 20% of DCIS lesions may progress to invasive cancer. Patients diagnosed with

Last week, the halls of the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) buzzed with conversation, curiosity, and optimism as Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) visited for an inside look at the future of cancer treatment and prevention. Moving through the lab, Congresswoman Jayapal met with CVI researchers, toured the Institute’s laboratory spaces, and learned more about the impact cancer vaccines are having on human health. The CVI team walked Congresswoman Jayapal through how our wor

At one of the most influential gatherings in global cancer research, Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI), took center stage. She was selected to speak at the Presidential Select Symposium at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, which gathers scientists, health care professionals, clinicians, patients, and advocates from around the world to share advances in cancer research. The symposium, “Targeting Stage 0: Precision-

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health have partnered to raise nearly $200 million to fund cancer vaccine clinical trials, including mRNA-based approaches for patients at high risk for tumor recurrence. Dr. Nora Disis In a recent article from Lancet Oncology, Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI), called the initiative a promising start, but commented that the scale of the investment remains sma

"We'd really like to see the science of oncology more, again through that lens of what is really going to make the difference for the patient in the next five years." That's the standard that Dr. Nora Disis is setting. In Episode 267 of Healthcare Unfiltered, Dr. Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI), Editor-In-Chief of Jama Oncology, and Deputy Editor of JAMA, shares her vision for the future of medical publishing with Dr. Chadi Nabhan. She discusses the evol

Last week, KING 5 News featured ongoing research at the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) to develop COLOVAC, a preventive vaccine designed to stop colon cancer before it starts. The segment included interviews with CVI Director Dr. Nora Disis and Becky Bruhn, a Seattle resident whose recent cancerous polyp illustrates the importance of early detection and need for new prevention tools. Colon cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States, and rate

We are proud to announce that Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the UW Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) and Dr. Kiran Dhillon, Executive Director, have been selected to join the 2026 XPRIZE Global Visioneering Brain Trust in the Health domain. XPRIZE brings world-class innovators together to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges through large-scale competitions that drive real-world impact. Their goal is to optimize wellness, advance personalized medicine, and drive scientific breakt

Dr. Denise Cecil, CVI Principal Scientist. PC: AP Photos Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with diagnoses rising among adults under 55. In response, the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) at UW Medicine is developing COLOVAC, a first-in-class vaccine designed to intercept colon cancer at its earliest stages, offering hope to those at the highest risk. Rising Colon Cancer Risk Colon cancer remains one of the most consequential cancers o

Photo Credits: Fred Hutch Dr. Natasha (Tasha) Hunter , Cancer Vaccine Institute Director of Clinical Trials, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Athena Endowed Award for Excellence in Breast Cancer Research. The Athena Award was established to recognize an early career researcher making the greatest contribution during the past year toward advancing research to improve the prevention, detection, diagnosis and/or treatment of breast cancer. Read more about Dr. Hunte

The Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) is proud to highlight a recent JAMA Oncology Viewpoint co‑authored by our Executive Director, Dr. Kiran Dhillon, and Dr. Lennard Lee of the University of Oxford, outlining why the time for cancer vaccines is now. For decades, the U.S. has invested in the science, infrastructure, and talent needed to make cancer vaccines possible. Early clinical data now show that these vaccines are safe, effective, and already providing meaningful benefits

The Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) is proud to share our 2025 Year in Review that highlights our research and achievements. We made remarkable progress last year, advancing vaccines in clinical trials, moving vaccines in our preclinical pipeline forward, and sharing our research with the community. We are especially grateful to our patients, scientists, clinicians, collaborators, staff, faculty, and supporters. Your ongoing partnership and scientific leadership accelerates re

The Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) at UW Medicine is advancing a new generation of cancer vaccines designed to train the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. These vaccines target proteins that are overexpressed in cancer, drive tumor growth, and are linked to poor outcomes. Once activated, vaccine‑generated immune cells circulate throughout the body, seek out cancer cells, and can remain for years, providing long‑term protection. CVI is developing vaccines

The Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) took park in the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium from December 9-12, 2025, bringing our latest research to one of the world's leading forums for breast cancer science. Faculty members from the CVI presented four scientific posters with fellow collaborators, researchers, and scientists. Through these presentations, the CVI team highlighted recent discoveries in HER2-targeted vaccines, neoadjuvant immunotherapy, and findings from our