Cancer Vaccine Institute - University of Washington

07/21/2025

At a State of the School Luncheon last month, Tim Dellit, MD, Fel. ’03, dean of the UW School of Medicine and CEO of UW Medicine, joined Nora Disis, MD, Fel. ’93, director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute - University of Washington, to discuss her award-winning, lifesaving cancer vaccine research.

“Science has changed the way I practice medicine. I can say, as an oncologist, for every single cancer there has been a sea change in the way I treat that disease in the last 15 years. There are cancers that we’ve cured...It’s changed because of the advances we have made in science that have gone directly into the clinic. Over ninety percent of the new treatments have changed cancer therapy started from an idea in academic laboratories. At this point in time, it scares me to think of that trajectory coming to a stop. We’ve made so many gains, and I want to see that continue for the next generation,” said Dr. Disis.

On engaging the next generation—future physicians and clinicians—Dr. Disis stated, “I want to impart to them the joy of being ‘a lab rat’…You’re not the lone wolf, you develop your team and all support each other, especially in translational research, bench to bedside research. That’s the type of research a physician should be doing, research that goes into patients.”

On what makes the UW Medicine ecosystem unique, Dr. Disis shared, “There is no barrier to collaboration, no ego. We’re all in it for the fun of it—of moving science forward.”

07/21/2025

🌍 Big strides in the global fight against cancer — and UW Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine is part of the story.

In a recent The Economist article on cancer breakthroughs, Dr. Mary (Nora) Disis, Director of the UW Cancer Vaccine Institute, was quoted on the promise of cancer vaccines. She emphasized that vaccines could be used not just to treat cancer, but to prevent it entirely — a transformative shift in how we approach the disease.

Read the full article here: https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/07/17/the-world-is-making-impressive-progress-averting-cancer?giftId=1ed47997-1258-4389-bcae-5a1a06d954c5&utm_campaign=gifted_article

And there are more improvements to come

06/26/2025

At the Cancer Vaccine Institute, Adam Prince works with over 30,000 frozen blood samples, some of which were collected as far back as the 1980s. Stored in liquid nitrogen, they serve as a living archive of cancer research, revealing how the immune system responds to our cancer vaccines, even decades later.

Meet the scientist helping turn decades of immunological data into tomorrow’s breakthroughs through his profile on our blog series : https://www.uwcvi.org/post/on-the-cancer-research-frontier-adam-prince-research-scientist-at-immunological-monitoring-laborat

05/29/2025

Thank you to Valley Girls & Guys! for your $500,000 pledge to support cancer vaccine research at CVI.

“Valley Girls & Guys! proudly supports the groundbreaking work of the Cancer Vaccine Institute. Our mission is to harness the power of community to support cancer patients and their families, and CVI’s commitment to a future without cancer aligns perfectly with our values. We are honored to stand side by side on this journey of hope. XOXO,” said Tina McDonough, Founder of Valley Girls & Guys.

05/19/2025

“We used to think cancer patients didn’t have immune responses to their cancer, but now we know every cancer patient has an immune response against their cancer,” said Dr. Nora Disis. “The problem is the immune responses aren’t the type of immune responses you need to kill your cancer.”

That’s where cancer vaccines come in. Cancer vaccines can help train the immune system to see malignant cells and tumors as dangerous and have a killer immune response, said Dr. Disis on the Outperform Cancer Podcast. Dr. Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute, explained the science behind cancer vaccines and provided actionable advice for patients: why the best time to pursue a cancer vaccine trial is after initial treatment, and how to find trials that could be life-changing.

Listen in to learn more from world-renowned oncologist-scientist Dr. Nora Disis:

Discover why cancer vaccines are one of the fastest-growing areas of clinical research in this powerful interview with Dr. Nora Disis, a world-renowned exper...

05/13/2025

Brava, Dr. Nora Disis! We’re thrilled to celebrate Dr. Disis, CVI Founder and Director, as a 2025 Brava! Award honoree. She joins a cohort of "Women of Excellence," identified by the Women’s University Club of Seattle.

In her inspiring remarks, she shared the “Four F’s” that have grounded her career success: Fortitude, Focus, Fearlessness, and Fun. These principles were a glimpse into her journey of finding meaning through science — a message that resonated with the young scholars and fellow honorees in the room.

Read more: https://www.uwcvi.org/post/dr-nora-disis-honored-as-a-woman-of-excellence-brava-award

04/10/2025

“We’re at a tipping point in harnessing decades of research to create a vaccine-powered, cancer-free future,” CVI’s Executive Director Dr. Kiran Dhillon told Sarasota Magazine.

Dr. Dhillon shared the groundbreaking progress of the CVI’s cancer vaccines, which are designed to cure existing cancer growth or prevent its return. We currently have vaccines in ongoing studies and clinical trials for breast, ovarian, colon, lung, bladder, and prostate cancer.

The biggest hurdle to bringing these vaccines to market: a shortage of funding. The Brian and Sheila Jellison Family Foundation recently pledged a $2 million matching gift to the Cancer Vaccine Coalition, who have been rallying support to drive these life-saving treatments forward. Generous donations like these mean that more vaccines can be manufactured quickly, ready for expanded clinical trials, and ultimately available in clinics around the world. We are so proud to work with organizations like Cancer Vaccine Coalition and its founder Kristen Dahlgren.

Read more on Sarasota Magazine: https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/health-and-fitness/2025/04/jellison-family-breast-cancer-vaccine

04/04/2025

We are so honored that CVI Executive Director Dr. Kiran Dhillon took the stage amongst innovators and entrepreneurs to address the critical gaps in women’s health at the Power of X Summit: Solutions for an Untapped Market. Sharing the stage with and its founder Kristen Dahlgren, Dr. Dhillon spoke about the future of breast cancer treatment and prevention with lifesaving cancer vaccines, developed here at Cancer Vaccine Institute.

We are so thankful to have been a part of this energizing space and amongst the voices reimagining what’s possible in women’s health. And a big thank you to Kristen for championing collaboration in the field of cancer vaccine research. Together, we’re driving real change to bring cancer vaccines to patients sooner!

04/03/2025

CVI Director Dr. Nora Disis was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research and Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund to advance the development of a vaccine designed to prevent ovarian cancer’s metastatic spread.

Recurrent ovarian cancer that is resistant to chemotherapy is especially difficult to treat, and patients have very few options. A vaccine that trains the immune system to recognize and destroy ovarian cancer cells will be a game-changer for patients.

This funded study will test the vaccine using an innovative vaccine delivery method that delivers a DNA vaccine on gold beads through the skin and improves mucosal immunity. Her hypothesis is that this gold bead delivery method is a better way to vaccinate and may lead to a stronger anti-cancer immune response. If successful, this research will pave the way to a clinical trial for the vaccine.

“Ovarian cancer research needs bold ideas, and Dr. Disis is a leader in the development of cancer vaccines,” said Molly O’Connor, CEO of the Rivkin Center. “Ovarian cancer patients who have received her vaccines are already living better, longer lives. This new research has the potential to bring hope for so many more.”

03/17/2025

As we close the chapter on 2024, the Cancer Vaccine Institute is proud to share a year-in-review that underscores a journey of progress and promise. Our very own CVI Director Dr. Nora Disis was named "Inventor of the Year" by UW Medicine, NBC's TODAY Show visited the lab, and we launched our rebranded website. With our goal of having a vaccine FDA-approved within the next 5 to 8 years closer, the CVI remains steadfast in its commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families.

To our patients, donors, collaborators, and research team, thank you for being an integral part of our mission to ignite the immune system to end cancer. Your support fuels innovation, hope, and the future of cancer vaccines.

Take a look at the CVI's 2024 Year In Review Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/d12d4249ea98/2024-year-in-review-at-the-cvi?e=5e2fc1ab6c
To keep up to date on our latest research and clinical trials, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.uwcvi.org/contact

01/30/2025

Our very own Dr. Nora Disis was the inaugural Wayne Kuni Award for Cancer Innovation by the Kuni Foundation. In honor of its founder, Wayne Kuni, the $1 million award recognizes transformative, disruptive contributions to the field of cancer research. With her work on cancer vaccines, Dr. Disis is defining the next frontier of immunology and cancer research, revolutionizing how cancer is treated and prevented.

“[Dr. Disis'] commitment to innovation centers people and community, and we need that now more than ever," said Greg Goodwin, Chair of the Kuni Foundation Board of Directors, at the award ceremony. "The world needs more [people like Dr. Disis], and her approach and impact are what inspired us to make this $1 million award to her and the Cancer Vaccine Institute in Wayne’s honor.”

Join the celebration via our latest blog post: https://www.uwcvi.org/post/dr-nora-disis-honored-with-inaugural-wayne-kuni-award-for-innovation-in-cancer-research

12/13/2024

Thank you to In Concert for Cancer board members, volunteers, and donors for your support of CVI. “This year’s milestone donation of $50,000 to CVI, made possible by the collective generosity of our In Concert for Cancer supporters, means the world to me. Supporting the lifesaving work of Dr. Nora Disis and her team is a true honor, and this gift marks a deeply personal milestone in my commitment to making a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer,” said Michele Abrams, Founder/ Executive Director of In Concert for Cancer.