Lung Cancer Research and Clinical Trials at Fred Hutch

Lung cancer research at Fred Hutch Cancer Center has led to new treatments with significantly higher survival rates than in years past.

Our work spans fundamental studies of the gene changes that drive lung cancer to large-scale population studies that seek to understand why it develops in some people but not others. We also study how noncancerous cells surrounding the tumor may influence its progression.

Lung Cancer Clinical Trials 

Fred Hutch typically has over 750 active cancer clinical trials enrolling participants. 

Clinical trials may allow some patients access to a promising new treatment, and help physicians and researchers learn more about a disease. 

Search Lung Cancer Clinical Trials

Our Lung Cancer Research Focus

Research to Understand Lung Cancer Risk

Though smoking is perhaps the most well-known risk factor for lung cancer, not everyone who smokes will develop lung cancer. People who have never smoked make up a growing percentage of those diagnosed with lung cancer. Our scientists study the differences in lung tumors in these two populations to seek unique drug targets in each type of tumor. We also perform large-scale population-based studies to better understand why smoking only puts certain people at higher risk for lung cancer. Studies like these could improve our understanding of who is most at risk for lung cancer and help physicians improve screening strategies.

Finding New Ways to Harness the Immune System

Cancer cells are surrounded by noncancerous cells. Many of these can influence tumor cells’ growth, invasiveness and ability to metastasize (spread), or leave the original tumor and initiate new tumors elsewhere. Our investigators study these nontumor cells and how they interact with lung tumor cells. In particular, our scientists focus on cells from the immune system. Insights from these studies could point to new therapeutic targets or ways to harness the immune system itself to target lung cancer. Our scientists also conduct immunotherapy clinical trials for lung cancer.

Discovering New Drug Targets

Understanding the inner workings of cancer cells can help researchers discover new drug targets. Our scientists work to pinpoint the critical genetic changes that promote lung cancer and translate these insights into targeted therapies for patients’ individual tumors.

Fast-Tracking Breakthroughs

The Fred Hutch Lung Specialized Project of Research Excellence (SPORE) works to fast-track the latest breakthroughs in labs to patients and those at risk of developing lung cancer. These researchers are focused on:

  • Facilitation of pulmonary nodule evaluation for lung cancer early detection and screening
  • Lack of effective therapies for small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
  • Sub-optimal response rates of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to novel immune-based therapies

Learn more about Lung SPORE.

Driven to Find Out Why

McGarry Houghton, MD, is a Fred Hutch pulmonologist who oversees lung cancer research at Fred Hutch. Lung cancer rarely develops in normal lungs, he points out. People with lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema are up to five times more likely to develop and die from lung cancer than people who don’t have these conditions.

“The big link in my mind is to figure out why people with chronic lung diseases are set up to get these infections and how that inflammation fuels lung cancer,” said Dr. Houghton. “This idea of studying the previous life of the lung before the lung cancer developed is something very few people do.”

Read More About Dr. Houghton's Research
Dr. McGarry Houghton
Dr. McGarry Houghton is a lung cancer specialist at Fred Hutch.

Our Lung Cancer Researchers and Faculty

Our scientists and providers work together to prevent, diagnose and treat lung cancer as well as other cancers and diseases. The lab research and clinical research they do are essential parts of the scientific process that leads to new treatments and better care. Many of our lung cancer providers also do research in addition to seeing patients. Clinical trials can be a way for patients to get early access to new leading-edge therapies, too. Our research teams are running many clinical studies for people with lung cancer. 

Christina Baik, MD, MPH

Christina Baik, MD, MPH

Christina Baik, MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

1 more appointment

Phone: 206.606.6680
Email:
Fax: 206.606.1435
Mail Stop: K2-231
Alice Berger, PhD

Alice Berger, PhD

Alice Berger, PhD

Associate Professor, Human Biology Division, Fred Hutch

Associate Professor, Herbold Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

1 more appointment

Phone: 206.667.6281
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop: C2-023
Lab Website
Christopher J. Cadham, PhD, MPH

Christopher J. Cadham, PhD, MPH

Christopher J. Cadham, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Cancer Prevention Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

Member, Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR), Fred Hutch

1 more appointment

Phone: 206.667.5300
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop: M3-B232
Delphine Chen, MD

Delphine Chen, MD

Delphine Chen, MD

Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

Director, Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Fred Hutch

3 more appointments

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
Eric Collisson, MD

Eric Collisson, MD

Eric Collisson, MD

Director, Translational Integration, Stuart and Molly Sloan Precision Oncology Institute, Fred Hutch

Professor, Human Biology Division, Fred Hutch

1 more appointment

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop: D5-116
Lab Website
Lei Deng, MD

Lei Deng, MD

Lei Deng, MD

Assistant Professor, Thoracic, Head and Neck Cancer Program, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
Ziding Feng, PhD

Ziding Feng, PhD

Ziding Feng, PhD

Professor, Biostatistics Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

Member, Pathogen-Associated Malignancies Integrated Research Center (PAM IRC)

1 more appointment

Phone: 206.667.6038
Email:
Fax: 206.667.5964
Mail Stop: M3-C102
Jie Fu, PhD, DABR

Jie Fu, PhD, DABR

Jie Fu, PhD, DABR

Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
Clemens Grassberger, PhD

Clemens Grassberger, PhD

Clemens Grassberger, PhD

Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
Lia M. Halasz, MD

Lia M. Halasz, MD

Lia M. Halasz, MD

Professor, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch

Co-Medical Director, Alvord Brain Tumor Center at UW Medical Center - Montlake and the Gamma Knife Center at UW Medical Center - Northwest

4 more appointments

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
McGarry Houghton, MD

McGarry Houghton, MD

McGarry Houghton, MD

Professor, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch

Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch

4 more appointments

Phone: 206.667.3175
Email:
Fax: 206.667.5255
Mail Stop: D4-100
Lab Website
Dong-Woo Kang, PhD, CEP

Dong-Woo Kang, PhD, CEP

Dong-Woo Kang, PhD, CEP

Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

Phone: 206.675.5188
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop: M4-B874
David MacPherson, PhD

David MacPherson, PhD

David MacPherson, PhD

Professor, Human Biology Division, Fred Hutch

Professor, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

2 more appointments

Phone: 206.667.6464
Email:
Fax: 206.667.2917
Mail Stop: D4-100
Lab Website
David G. Maloney, MD, PhD

David G. Maloney, MD, PhD

David G. Maloney, MD, PhD

Professor Emeritus, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch

Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch

1 more appointment

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
Lonnie A. Nelson, PhD

Lonnie A. Nelson, PhD

Lonnie A. Nelson, PhD

Professor, Cancer Prevention Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

Faculty Lead, Indigenous Cancer Health Equity Initiative, Fred Hutch

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
W. Thomas Purcell, MD, MBA

W. Thomas Purcell, MD, MBA

W. Thomas Purcell, MD, MBA

Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Fred Hutch

Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

1 more appointment

Phone: 206.606.1192
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop: LG-700
Mary Redman, PhD

Mary Redman, PhD

Mary Redman, PhD

Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

1 more appointment

Phone: 206.667.4767
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop: M2-B230
Ramesh Rengan, MD, PhD

Ramesh Rengan, MD, PhD

Ramesh Rengan, MD, PhD

Senior Vice President and Director, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch

Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch

3 more appointments

Phone: 206.306.2814
Email:
Fax: 206.417.0347
Mail Stop: D3-100
Cristina Rodriguez, MD

Cristina Rodriguez, MD

Cristina Rodriguez, MD

Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

Member, Pathogen-Associated Malignancies Integrated Research Center (PAM IRC)

2 more appointments

Phone: 206.606.2048
Email:
Fax: 206.606.1435
Mail Stop: K2-231
Annemarie F. Shepherd, MD

Annemarie F. Shepherd, MD

Annemarie F. Shepherd, MD

Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch

Medical Director, Fred Hutch Cancer Center - Proton Therapy

2 more appointments

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
Lauren C. Shih, MD

Lauren C. Shih, MD

Lauren C. Shih, MD

Assistant Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
Matthew Triplette, MD, MPH

Matthew Triplette, MD, MPH

Matthew Triplette, MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

4 more appointments

Phone: 206.667.6335
Email:
Fax: 206.667.5765
Mail Stop: D5-360
Lab Website
Diane Tseng, MD, PhD

Diane Tseng, MD, PhD

Diane Tseng, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

2 more appointments

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop: LG-540

Lung Cancer News

All news
Lack of insurance, follow-ups undercut cancer screening wins
Lack of insurance, follow-ups undercut cancer screening wins Large multi-institution PROSPR II study finds big gaps in access, timely care in cervical, colorectal and lung cancers across U.S. November 4, 2025
The Beam: New lung cancer research, meals while away from home, meet our new head-and-neck cancer expert
The Beam: New lung cancer research, meals while away from home, meet our new head-and-neck cancer expert Fred Hutch expert weighs in on recent ASTRO conference, nutrition and cooking tips, meet Dr. Paul Riviere November 3, 2025
After an unexpected diagnosis and surgical complications, a Whitman College professor sought care at Fred Hutch – Proton Therapy
After an unexpected diagnosis and surgical complications, a Whitman College professor sought care at Fred Hutch – Proton Therapy Proton therapy was the easiest part of treatment for a thymic cancer patient with underlying multiple sclerosis November 3, 2025
Dr. Jingyi Jessica Li named Donald and Janet K. Guthrie Endowed Chair in Statistics
Dr. Jingyi Jessica Li named Donald and Janet K. Guthrie Endowed Chair in Statistics Funding will help new program head expand applied use of statistics in cancer research October 7, 2025