Dong-Woo Kang, PhD, CEP
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch
Dr. Dong-Woo Kang is a clinical exercise physiologist whose research investigates the role of exercise in oncologic outcomes. His work applies an "exercise is medicine" approach to enhance cancer treatment efficacy, mitigate treatment-related toxicities, and modulate tumor markers and disease progression. Dr. Kang is interested in translational research to explore the biological mechanisms, particularly immunological responses, that underlie these benefits, with a focus on understanding exercise's tumor-agnostic properties across diverse cancer populations. He is committed to advancing the evidence base to integrate exercise into standard oncologic care and ultimately impact a broader range of cancer patients.
Education
PhD, Behavioral Medicine, University of Alberta, Canada, 2020
BSc-MSc (hons), Exercise Medicine and Rehabilitation, Yonsei University, South Korea, 2015
Fellowship
Instructor, Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Harvard Medical School, 2024
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Harvard Medical School, 2022
Research Interests
Tumor progression
Cancer treatment toxicity and response
Immunotherapy
Immunological mechanisms
Gut microbiome
Virtual intervention delivery
Cancer prehabilitation & rehabilitation
Publications
Current/Completed Projects
Exercise Training for the Improvement of Immune Activity and Treatment Outcomes During Immunotherapy for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: The BOOST Trial (NCT06983899) (NIH/NCI R00)
Exercise for Tumor Suppressive Impact in Black Men With Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance: The REMOVE Trial (NCT05918263) (Prostate Cancer Foundation)
High-Intensity Exercise and High-Fiber Diet for Immunotherapy Outcomes in Melanoma Patients: The DUO Trial (NCT06298734) (World Cancer Research Foundation/American Institute of Cancer Research)
Preliminary Efficacy of Different Exercise Training During Immunotherapy in Patients With Lung Cancer: The ENHANCE Trial (NCT06026111) (NIH/NCI K99)
Exercise During Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: The ERASE Trial (NCT03203460) (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
"Our lab translates the science of 'exercise medicine' into improved cancer outcomes — we investigate the clinical roles and immunological mechanisms of exercise in oncologic settings. Our vision is to establish exercise as an accessible, therapeutic intervention to mitigate adverse effects, amplify treatment efficacy, and prevent cancer progression, to help cancer patients live healthier and longer lives."
— Dr. Dong-Woo Kang