This April 18 — on what would have been Kyle Spane’s 36th birthday — more than 80 friends, family members, caregivers, colleagues and supporters gathered at Fred Hutch Cancer Center to celebrate a remarkable milestone: the awarding of the Kyle Thomas Spane Endowed Chair to Neelendu “Neel” Dey, MD, a gastroenterologist whose research spans microbiome science, early detection and colon cancer prevention.
The chair was made possible through an extraordinary outpouring of support by more than 500 donors, who rallied in Spane’s memory to support colon cancer prevention.
Their peer-to-peer fundraising campaign helped propel the effort to its goal in just five months — a feat that drew laughter, tears and heartfelt tributes in a room filled with spring flowers and the unmistakable warmth of a multigenerational community determined to make something meaningful out of devastating loss.
“This change doesn’t just happen overnight,” said Andrew Bevegni, Spane’s lifelong best friend. “It’s a day-by-day, gift-by-gift, life-by-life effort. And together, we’ve built something powerful.”
Spane was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer at age 35, a decade younger than the recommended age for a first colonoscopy. He died just seven months later on August 12, 2024. His Fred Hutch care team remembered him for his humor, kindness and unshakeable positivity — traits echoed by his friends and family as they came together to build something lasting in his honor.
In the months following Spane’s death, his family and friends set out to create an enduring source of support for colon cancer research. Their extraordinary effort reflects the strength of their community and the clarity of their purpose: to ensure others facing colon cancer have better options, earlier answers and more time.
Now, that impact will live on through Dey’s research.
— Elise Van Vuren, Kyle Spane's wife
Dey, an associate professor in Fred Hutch’s Translational Science and Therapeutics Division and in the Division of Gastroenterology at UW Medicine, studies the gut microbiome, which are the communities of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the digestive tract. Dey and his team are working to understand how microbial signals could serve as early indicators of cancer risk or shape response to therapy. They aim to shift the timeline of detection — catching symptoms before they appear and, ultimately, stopping cancer before it begins.
“The most effective way to treat colon cancer is to prevent it,” Dey said. “This endowment gives us the flexibility to follow bold ideas that could change how we assess risk, monitor patients and intervene early.”
Dey was first drawn to medicine by the promise of saving lives. But through medical school and residency, he became equally motivated by something just as important: helping patients live better, not just longer. He recalled growing up with severe asthma and how his parents, as Bangladeshi immigrants — including his father, who was pursuing a PhD in physics — couldn’t afford the treatment he needed.
His pediatrician stepped in and made sure he had access to care.
“In getting us that nebulizer, he lifted not just a person, but a family and a community,” Dey said. “He enabled me to go out and be productive, to live life, to pay it forward.”
The Kyle Thomas Spane Endowed Chair, created to support colon cancer prevention, early detection and emerging research opportunities, is one of 25 endowed chairs that will ultimately be created through the Anniversary Challenge. Fred Hutch currently has 46 total endowed chairs across the institution. Endowed chairs are established with contributions of $2 million and provide sustained, flexible support for faculty. They are also a cornerstone of the Campaign for Fred Hutch, a $3 billion fundraising effort to radically accelerate the pace and scale of research.
“The creation of this chair speaks to the power of community — to the love Kyle inspired and the determination of his family and friends,” said Fred Hutch President and Director Thomas J. Lynch Jr., MD, holder of the Raisbeck Endowed Chair. “This is a remarkable legacy, and we’re honored to realize it through research that will benefit patients and families for years to come.”
Colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death among men under 50 and the second-leading cause among women in the same age group, according to the American Cancer Society. Fred Hutch researchers are focused on improving outcomes through prevention, earlier detection and personalized care — especially for younger patients who, like Spane, are increasingly being diagnosed at advanced stages. The chair will help power that work, fueling research that aims to detect colon cancer earlier, when it’s most treatable.
For Elise Van Vuren, Spane’s wife, the endowment is a reflection of his enduring spirit, his deep appreciation for the staff that cared for him and a way to change the future for other families.
“Kyle believed so deeply in Fred Hutch — in the science, in his care team, in what was possible,” she said. “We wanted to carry that belief forward in a way that could help another family have a different outcome.”
At the celebration, handwritten messages to Spane’s care team surrounded two large photos of him: “Thank you for taking care of our guy,” people wrote. “We’re so glad you got to love him too.”
Spane and Van Vuren’s 3-year-old son, Braiden, led his mom to their seats and chatted happily through most of the remarks. The family presented tulips from Knutson Farms — near where Spane grew up in the Puyallup valley — to their partners on the Fred Hutch Philanthropy team. Friends and family raised their glasses for a toast.
And, as Dey accepted the chair, it was clear that this was more than a scientific milestone. It was a deeply human one — made possible by the strength of a community and the memory of someone they loved.
Learn more about how endowments like the Kyle Thomas Spane Chair and other generous philanthropic contributions are accelerating discovery at FredHutch.org/Campaign.
Nicole Na is a writer on the Philanthropy team at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. With a foundation in biology and experience in Fred Hutch labs, Nicole began her career in writing at conservation nonprofits before managing scientific publications at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. These experiences ultimately led her to her current role, where she combines her passions for science and storytelling. Reach her at nna@fredhutch.org.
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