Cancer Vaccine Institute News

The Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) was excited to share new results from a multi-center clinical trial led by Moffitt Cancer Center at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. These results offer encouraging evidence for WOKVAC, a HER2-targeted DNA vaccine developed here at the CVI. In this study, Moffitt and collaborating sites evaluated whether HER2 vaccination could help prevent recurrence in patients at especially high risk, including individuals who still have invas

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the UW Cancer Vaccine Institute shared new research revealing how a unique population of immune cells, shaped in part by the gut microbiome, may influence breast cancer growth and treatment response. Our team’s findings shed light on these immune cells called BAC‑TA T cells, their presence in newly diagnosed patients, and how precision probiotics could one day help shift the immune environment to better fight tumors. Dr. Denise

The UW Cancer Vaccine Institute is excited to share new findings suggesting that a HER2-targeted cancer vaccine may help protect HER2-positive breast cancer patients from developing brain metastases—one of the most difficult complications to treat. Dr. Candace Haghighi presented these findings at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Dr. Candace B. Haghighi at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium The Highlights: HER2-positive breast cancer has a high risk of s

Photo Credits: Jennifer Childs and Kiran Dhillon The Cancer Vaccine Institute held our first ever patient reunion during the CVI Circle - Empowering Patients, Advancing Science event last week in Seattle and virtually. Festivities kicked off with an informal dinner for CVI patients and family members, along with key CVI faculty and staff, on the evening of Thursday, June 15th. Patients were very excited to meet others who had gone through the same or similar clinical trials f

Friday, June 15th-16th, 2023 In-person in Seattle, Washington & Virtually The CVI Circle - Empowering Patients, Advancing Science ("The CVI Circle") is an event organized by the Cancer Vaccine Institute at the University of Washington to bring together patients, clinicians, and researchers. We are proud to partner with our amazing Patient Advisory Council the planning of this event. Our goal is for everyone - patients, clinicians, & scientists - to have the opportunity to pa