Cancer Vaccine Institute - University of Washington

12/19/2025

We want to give a special thank you to In Concert for Cancer! Michele Abrams and Jeff Christensen presented a $75,000 check to the CVI on December 16th. Thank you for spreading your love for music and passion for ending cancer with the community! Your gift will directly advance cancer vaccine research, creating hope and a brighter future for patients and their families.

In Concert for Cancer is a nonprofit that brings music and people together, helping to fund life-changing research, treatments, and patient programs---including the CVI and Seattle Children's Hospital. We are so grateful to have been chosen by In Concert for Cancer as a recipient!

12/17/2025

✨ We are deeply grateful to patients like Kim Czepiga, whose courage and partnership fuel the Cancer Vaccine Institute’s mission!

Stories like Kim’s inspire our work to transform the standard of cancer treatment and prevention through vaccines. With every breakthrough, we move closer to a future where cancer is no longer a devastating diagnosis but a disease we can prevent.

💙 Together, we can create a cancer‑free future.

Your gift helps accelerate this vision:

The Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine is harnessing the immune system to treat and prevent cancer.

12/11/2025

Thank you The Breast Cancer Research Foundation for your support of our work on ADVAC - a vaccine designed to prevent breast cancer and other diseases caused by obesity-associated inflammation! The vaccine targets many proteins found in inflammatory fat and when given to mice, prevents breast cancer and reverses signs of metabolic syndrome (diabetes). BCRF support is helping finalize the DNA vaccine construct and to safety testing in preparation for a Phase I human clinical trial in the next few years.

Check out this story by Fred Hutch's Diane Mapes to read more about BCRF support for CVI's Dr. Disis and other colleagues at UW Medicine and Fred Hutch!

Seven scientists with the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium received another year of funding from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, or BCRF, to pursue research into new therapies, new biomarkers and new vaccines meant to improve outcomes in this deadly d...

12/11/2025

CVI’s Dr. Nora Disis joined the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s flagship Washington Research & Policy Breakfast, co-moderated by Dr. Nancy Davidson of Fred Hutch. This annual gathering brings together policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates to explore evidence-based strategies that reduce the cancer burden and ensure equitable access to care. 💜

Read more:

PC: American Cancer SocietyOn October 23, 2025, Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute, helped lead the conversation at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Washington Research & Policy Breakfast at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center. This annual...

12/09/2025

What a day! 💜🐾 Dr. Nora Disis was highlighted at a Husky game during Huskies for a Cure and had the chance to share CVI’s mission with dignitaries like University of Washington President Dr. Robert Jones, UW Medicine CEO Dr. Tim Dellit, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and former KING5 News anchor Jean Enersen. Our team was right there on the field, cheering as the Huskies charged onto the field. A true celebration of community, resilience, and the fight against cancer!

Photos from the October 23rd event include: Dr. Nora Disis (CVI Director), Dr. Robert Jones (University of Washington President), Dr. Lynn Hassan Jones, Dr. Tim Dellit (UW Medicine CEO), Jean Enersen (Former KING5 News Anchor), Pramila Jayapal (US House of Representatives), Susan Bevan (CVI Developm...

12/02/2025

📢 The UW Cancer Vaccine Institute team is heading to San Antonio for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 9–12! We’re excited to share new research, connect with collaborators, and engage with anyone interested in learning more about our work developing therapeutic and prophylactic cancer vaccines.

📬 If you’d like to meet up or learn more, reach out to our Executive Director, Dr. Kiran Dhillon, at kkd@uw.edu.

📍Join us at our poster presentations on Thursday and Friday—details in the images below!

11/24/2025

What an incredible moment! 💙💚

Dr. Nora Disis was honored as a Seattle Seahawks' Delta Community Captain for her pioneering cancer research. Her work at the Cancer Vaccine Institute is changing lives and bringing hope to patients and families everywhere.

We’re grateful to the Seattle Seahawks, Delta Air Lines , and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation for celebrating this impact and amplifying the importance of cancer research.
Join us in congratulating Dr. Disis! 👏

👉 Read more: https://www.uwcvi.org/post/the-seattle-seahawks-delta-airlines-and-bcrf-celebrate-dr-nora-disis-transformative-research
📸 See the photos: https://www.seahawks.com/photos/photos-dr-nora-disis-is-honored-as-the-seahawks-delta-community-captain -6243-4da1-936a-180ab7e869f3

Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine, has been honored with a Delta Community Captain Award for her groundbreaking work developing cancer vaccines that harness the body's immune system to fight disease. Known as the "mot

11/20/2025

Last month, we gathered with members of the Seattle community who share a powerful vision: ending ovarian cancer. At Changing the Course of Ovarian Cancer, we shared real progress - one vaccine in Phase II clinical trials, two more in the pipeline - and honored the voices that make this work matter.

We’re deeply grateful to longtime advocates Katerie Schei and Joe White for their steadfast leadership, and to Betty Merken for sharing her story with such courage and grace.

The presence of so many ovarian cancer thrivers filled the room with powerful, inspiring energy. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

💙💙💙 Read more:
https://www.uwcvi.org/post/changing-the-course-of-ovarian-cancer

Developing Vaccines to Create a New Standard of CareOn October 22, 2025, the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) at UW Medicine welcomed patients, advocates, researchers, and community members to DeLille Cellars in Woodinville, WA for an evening of connection and discovery. “Changing the Course of Ovar...

11/19/2025

Big news from the Cancer Vaccine Institute! 🎉

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Natasha Hunter as our new Director of Clinical Trials. Dr. Hunter is a breast cancer researcher and oncologist whose work focuses on using circulating tumor DNA and immune strategies to detect and prevent cancer recurrence.

She’s also leading several phase II trials of our cancer vaccines—bringing hope and innovation to patients and families.

Her leadership marks an exciting new chapter for CVI. Help us give her a warm welcome!
👉 https://www.uwcvi.org/post/welcoming-dr-natasha-hunter-as-director-of-clinical-trials-at-cvi


PC: Fred Hutch

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Natasha Hunter, MD, has been appointed Director of Clinical Trials at the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI).Dr. Hunter is a translational breast cancer researcher and clinical oncologist at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Her research...

11/14/2025

🎶 Deep gratitude to In Concert for Cancer and to the incredible Michele Abrams and Jeff Christensen for turning passion into purpose! Through your love of music and unwavering drive to end cancer, you are helping fuel life-changing breakthroughs. We are grateful for your support which brings hope to so many patients and their families!

✨ Friends, we have some very inspiring news to share!Thanks to the collective generosity of our ICFC family during this year’s benefit concert festivities an...

11/12/2025

We’re proud to celebrate Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute, who has been named a 2025 Champion of SITC by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer!

This award honors 40 individuals whose work has shaped the field of cancer immunotherapy and advanced SITC’s mission of global impact, education, and advocacy.

Dr. Disis’ dedication to science, patients, and progress continues to inspire us all.

💙 Join us in congratulating her!
👉 https://www.uwcvi.org/post/celebrating-dr-nora-disis-2025-champion-of-sitc-award-honoree

We are proud to announce that Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute, has been selected as a 2025 Champion of SITC by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). This special recognition, part of SITC’s 40th anniversary celebration, honors 40 individuals whose work has signif...

10/16/2025

Grateful to Washington Athletics for championing research at the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine. Your support will bring life-saving research to patients.

Bigger than athletics 💜

Join us at select Huskies for a Cure events to raise funds, celebrate survivors, honor lives lost, and recognize the medical professionals making a difference → https://gohski.es/4nZmob9