A Transformative Boost for CVI Breast Cancer Vaccine Research

At the Cancer Vaccine Institute, we are proud to share a major milestone in our mission to develop safe and effective scalable cancer vaccines. A generous $500,000 Game-Changer Grant from the Cancer Vaccine Coalition, in partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research, will allow us to expand our Phase II clinical trial of WOKVAC—a multi-antigen breast cancer vaccine for HER2+ breast cancer.

This grant is more than financial support—it’s a resounding vote of confidence in the future of immune-based cancer therapies. We extend our deepest gratitude to Kristen Dahlgren and the Cancer Vaccine Coalition for their visionary leadership, and to the V Foundation for Cancer Research for their unwavering commitment to bold, high-impact science. Their partnership accelerates our ability to bring cutting-edge vaccines to patients who need them most.

WOKVAC is designed for patients with stage I–III HER2-positive breast cancer and is administered alongside chemotherapy and targeted therapies prior to surgery. It has already demonstrated a favorable safety profile and very encouraging patient responses. With this expansion, we can enroll more participants, deepen our understanding of cancer-killing immunity, and strengthen the statistical power of this potentially pivotal study.

As Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute, shared:

“Cancer vaccines are here and at a tipping point. This financial support puts us closer to a future where we can activate a patient’s immune system to fight cancer.”

We’re also deeply moved by the voices of patients like Carmel Laurino, who received the vaccine and reflected:

“Getting WOKVAC alongside my treatment felt like an added layer of protection—hope grounded in science. I'm grateful I had access to this trial, and I want more patients to have the same chance. A vaccine that's safe, scalable, and affordable could save not only lives, but livelihoods—and with these additional resources to expand the research, it feels like we're so much closer to making that future possible for all patients who need it.”

To learn more about our clinical trials and how to get involved, visit UW CVI’s trial page.