2025 Annual Report

This year, Fred Hutch turned 50!

When I look at this photo from 1975 of our very first sign being installed, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come. What began as a small organization rooted in one brother’s love and an audacious vision has grown into a global leader in cancer and infectious disease research and care.

While we’ve experienced a lot of challenges and changes this year, the scale of our ambition and the strength of our community are as great as ever, and we are determined to pursue bold ideas to achieve what might seem impossible. Over the last 50 years, we’ve grown in every way: in size, in scope and in impact. And this year, we spent time reflecting on 50 years of innovative research and compassionate care. From bone marrow transplantation to HIV and AIDS research to fundamental science, Fred Hutch has been a leader in cancer care and scientific discovery for half a century. Our legacy continues to drive us forward, and we made tremendous strides in 2025 with the support of our community.

Our outpatient complex in South Lake Union, which serves more than 60,000 patients per year, was renamed the Sloan Clinic in recognition of Stuart and Molly Sloan and their transformative philanthropic support. Their generous donations are helping Fred Hutch to expand the work of the Stuart and Molly Sloan Precision Oncology Institute and make research discoveries that are being translated into new, targeted therapies for patients.

In our clinics, we’ve embraced new technologies to help improve the care we provide for our patients. We’re harnessing artificial intelligence to summarize medical records and document clinical notes for providers, enabling them to have more face-to-face time with each patient. We’re also on the leading edge of using AI to improve the accuracy of colonoscopies that are crucial to preventing colon cancer. And, we’re offering new hope for people with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, through therapies developed right here. Fred Hutch is the only cancer center in Washington offering high-dose chemotherapy via hepatic artery infusion. This innovative treatment allows physicians to deliver chemotherapy directly to the liver at higher doses and with fewer side effects. Throughout our clinics – including at our excellent community sites – we served more than 72,000 patients last year. But the number of people in our community with cancer diagnoses continues to increase, and we are growing so we can care for all the patients who depend on us.

Our researchers also made major discoveries this year — from mapping molecules in overlooked brain cells to discovering that our long-held understanding of gene expression is more complex than we've long thought. This surprising insight could reshape our understanding of gene regulation and its role in diseases like cancer. We launched TakePART-Northwest, a bold new research program where patients can power research by donating biological samples to improve screening, prevention and treatment for cancer and other diseases. And we’re leading the Vanguard Study, a national effort to evaluate the effectiveness and use of multi-cancer detection tests that may someday replace traditional screenings. I’m also thrilled that Fred Hutch is the coordinating center for the Cancer AI Alliance — called CAIA — a research collaboration of top cancer centers, with financial and technological support from industry. Together, we’re building the world's largest AI laboratory for cancer research and treatments. We’ve also deepened partnerships with UW Medicine and others to accelerate discovery and improve outcomes.

And we’ve seen extraordinary support for our Campaign for Fred Hutch during this 50th anniversary year. 43,000 donors, made up of individuals, organizations and our employees, have come together to fuel the next generation of breakthroughs. Thousands joined us for Obliteride this year, as well as Base 2 Space, Twitch streams and other events that support our efforts. Many donors made gifts through their workplaces or their estate plans. And still others established endowed chairs for our faculty, helped launch new research studies or created new resources to inspire future scientists and clinicians. The energy, generosity and impact of our community has never been more powerful.

We’ve also invested in our people — the brilliant minds and compassionate hearts who make Fred Hutch what it is. We added new scholars and faculty and recognized our staff who have helped us come this far — and who are why we’ll go even further. Fifty years ago, we started with a bold idea. Today, we’re building on that legacy with urgency, with hope, and with the unwavering commitment that we can prevent and eliminate cancer and infectious diseases. We’re excited for you to continue to be part of our journey.

- Thomas J. Lynch Jr., MD, Fred Hutch president and director and holder of the Raisbeck Endowed Chair