Our Research

Inventing the Future: People, Programs and Promise

Our highest priority is to create research and infrastructure that provides a foundation for personalized precision diagnostics and tailored therapies for cancer patients. Precision oncology is a deceptively simple idea: identifying genes that drive a particular cancer to facilitate the design of precise targeted therapies for each patient – ultimately reducing tumor burden or eradicating disease altogether.

Currently, Seattle Translational Tumor Research focuses on a number of solid tumors and blood cancers: anogenital, bladder, brain, breast, colon, head and neck, leukemia, liverlunglymphoma, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease, myelomaovary, pancreas, prostatesarcoma, and skin. Since cancer cells behave similarly between cancer types, lessons learned in one type of cancer can be translated to others.  For this reason, the revolutionary research performed by our members brings benefit to all cancer patients. Here we introduce our multidisciplinary teams involved in cancer research and care for cancer patients. Our teams include experts in mathematical modeling, computer simulation, visualization, bioengineering, big data mining, cancer biology, precision oncology, population science and the best clinicians in the field.

Within each cancer type we showcase cutting-edge research taking place across our institutions. Projects range from the evaluation of genetic and environmental risk factors, to improving patient care and lengthening survival, and represent only a subset of the life-changing work carried out by our teams.

Together Fred Hutch, UW Medicine, and Seattle Children's are bridging laboratory sciences and patient care. Find out more about our multi-disciplinary, multi-organizaitons research programs and projects.


Our bladder cancer team brings cutting-edge therapies and clinical trials to patients at UW Medicine - providing personalized treatment plans from staging through follow-up care.

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Known as the Alvord Brain Tumor Center, the program has the largest NIH grant funding base in the nation for brain tumor related research. Our research includes patient-based and basic science efforts investigating tumor and stem cell biology, modeling, nanotechnology, drug development and therapeutic response.  

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The breast cancer team is a highly interdisciplinary group of investigators dedicated to reducing the incidence and subsequent mortality of breast cancer. The program fosters interdisciplinary research in basic science, genetics, clinical medicine, cancer prevention, and epidemiology.

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The colorectal cancer team is a highly interdisciplinary group of investigators dedicated to better understanding the causes and risks for colorectal cancer. Research in basic science, genetics, clinical medicine, cancer prevention, and epidemiology has resulted in treatment options that include surgery, chemotherapy and targeted therapies.

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The head and neck cancer team ranks as one of the top in the nation.  Patients have access to the broadest menu of therapy options locally and regionally and the only team in the region offering the newest technique of transoral robotic-assisted surgery. Researchers are identifying new ways to screen, diagnose and treat head and neck cancers.

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Our leukemia team is a highly interdisciplinary group of investigators dedicated to reducing the incidence and subsequent mortality of Leukemia. The program fosters interdisciplinary research in basic science, genetics, clinical medicine, cancer prevention, and epidemiology.

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The liver cancer program is a highly interdisciplinary group of investigators dedicated to reducing the incidence and mortality of liver cancer. The program fosters interdisciplinary research in basic science, genetics, clinical medicine, and cancer prevention between faculty at the Fred Hutch Cancer CenterUniversity of Washington, and the clinical community to improve liver cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment.

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Our lung cancer team is the largest and most experienced of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Our experts have developed innovative ways to prevent, detect and treat lung cancer.  The team is composed of laboratory and population scientists who work closely with clinicians and surgeons to provide the latest in diagnostic tools, targeted therapies and surgical techniques available.

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The lymphoma team is a highly interdisciplinary group of investigators dedicated to reducing the incidence and subsequent mortality of Lymphoma. The program fosters interdisciplinary research in basic science, genetics, clinical medicine, cancer prevention, and epidemiology.

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The MDS/MPN team is a highly interdisciplinary group of investigators dedicated to reducing the incidence and subsequent mortality of MDS/MPN. The program fosters interdisciplinary research in basic science, genetics, clinical medicine, cancer prevention, and epidemiology

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The myeloma team is a highly interdisciplinary group of investigators dedicated to reducing the incidence and subsequent mortality of Myeloma. The program fosters interdisciplinary research in basic science, genetics, clinical medicine, cancer prevention, and epidemiology.

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The ovarian cancer team is world renowned for its genetics program and one of the most active immunology and tumor vaccine groups in the country. The multidisciplinary team treats patients with the latest surgical and therapeutic approaches available.  Patients also have access to phase I, II and III clinical trials based on the current research findings.

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Our pancreatic cancer experts have identified new ways to prevent, detect early, diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer. Researchers discovered genetic mutations that define targets for screening, early diagnosis and new treatment strategies that include enzyme/chemotherapy combinations and immunotherapy.


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Our prostate cancer team is an NIH-recognized and funded consortium of investigators and clinicians. We are focused on the biology of tumors and development of new therapies. Patients have access to cancer screenings, personalized treatment strategies and cutting-edge clinical trials.

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Our sarcoma team brings together nationally recognized researchers and healthcare professionals with extensive knowledge and expertise who work together to develop new methods to prevent and cure sarcoma.  Our multidisciplinary team offers personalized treatment plans based on the type and stage of disease, each patient's genetics, life circumstances and other factors unique to the individual.

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The skin/cutaneous oncology research program is a highly interdisciplinary group of investigators dedicated to reducing the incidence and mortality from all types of skin cancers. The program fosters interdisciplinary research in basic science, genetics, clinical medicine, cancer prevention, and epidemiology. Our team is comprised of faculty from Fred Hutch Cancer CenterUniversity of WashingtonBenaroya Research Institute, and the clinical community to improve skin cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. 

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