Cancer Vaccine Institute News

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women. While advances in targeted therapies have improved patient outcomes for several breast cancer subtypes, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the most challenging forms of the disease to treat. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy have improved survival for some patients with metastatic TNBC, this benefit

Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI), spoke with FOX 13’s Claire Anderson to share encouraging clinical trial results and discuss the growing promise of breast cancer vaccines. The CVI is developing breast cancer vaccines that can program the body’s own immune system to recognize and kill breast cancer cells. These immune cells are capable of remaining in the body for years, providing long-term protection from cancer coming back. Dr. Disis explains,

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. On the dance floor, Meera Suresh moves her body rhythmically to the lively percussion, her facial expressions sharp and focused. Her arms move in angular patterns to the beat wh

The Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) is proud to share a review article published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that highlights how far the field of cancer vaccines has come and why it’s at a true tipping point. Decades of research have brought us to a moment where the essential pieces are finally in place: hundreds of tumor antigens identified, a clear understanding of the immune responses needed for cancer eradication, safe and effective vacc

The biggest challenge in ovarian cancer isn’t getting to remission - it’s staying there. Recurrence rates are high, especially for advanced disease. Nineteen-year survivor and CVI vaccine recipient Jamie Crase captures that stark reality: “Stage 4 ovarian cancer has a 90-95% chance of recurrence after the initial treatment. The odds were not in my favor.” At the Cancer Vaccine Institute, we are changing the odds in the favor of Jamie and all patients diagnosed with this deadl

For those impacted by ovarian cancer, September is more than just another month. It’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness for a disease that remains underfunded and underrecognized, and a moment for patients and families to be truly seen and heard as we push for the breakthroughs they’ve waited far too long for. Ovarian cancer is especially challenging because there are no reliable tests to catch it early. Most people are diagnosed after the disease is a

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