SEATTLE — May 6, 2026 — Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutch Cancer Center research findings, patient stories and other news.
May is the awareness month for skin and bladder cancers, melanoma and mental health. To connect with our experts, reach out to hplatisha@fredhutch.org.
Fred Hutch provides mental health services including spiritual health, social work and support groups. Contact Heather Platisha at hplatisha@fredhutch.org to connect with an expert.
The American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT)’s Annual Meeting takes place in Boston, Mass., from May 11-15. If you’re interested in speaking to an expert, contact Molly McElroy at mwmcelro@fredhutch.org.
The 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting will take place in Chicago, Ill., from May 29–June 2. To speak with an expert, contact media@fredhutch.org.
Cancer research
Does solar jet lag contribute to liver cancer?
Trang VoPham, PhD, MPH, MS, received a nearly $1 million grant from the American Cancer Society to lead the world’s first epidemiologic study of jet lag exposure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. HCC’s five-year relative survival rate is 22%, per the National Cancer Institute, and VoPham and colleagues will investigate if the disease is driven by a disruption in circadian rhythms.
Media contact: Kat Wynn, kwynn@fredhutch.org
Fred Hutch study dramatically expands therapeutic range of approved kinase drugs
Rare cancer expert Taran Gujral, PhD, and team identified kinases – enzymes that regulate almost every cell activity – as a promising target for cancer drugs. Published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, Gujral and team found that many FDA-approved drugs can block more kinases than previously thought, going from 89 to 235 and including many cancer-causing mutations. They also developed the free, public web-based tool Kinase Inhibitor Repurposing Hub (KIRhub) to visualize data. The study and tool identify new avenues for research, precision medicine and potential therapies for cancers that lack treatment options.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Immunotherapy
Is there a way to boost immunotherapy response?
Molecular biologist Kevin Barry, PhD, received a $270,000, two-year grant from the American Cancer Society to investigate new ways to boost immunotherapy responses against metastatic melanoma. Barry’s research explores the ways that tumor microenvironment helps cancer cells evade the immune system. With this grant, Barry hopes to develop new therapies that repair the immune system’s ability and response to cancer cells, which will ultimately improve patient responses and outcomes.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Oncology Insights with Dr. Petros Grivas - Episode 11
Host Petros Grivas, MD, PhD, FASCO, speaks with Lei Deng, MD, about the advances in lung cancer research and patient care. Deng discusses how precision medicine, immunotherapy and rapid molecular testing are improving outcomes for patients with the disease, as well as the importance of early detection, team-based care and delivering treatment that reflects patients’ values and priorities.
Media contact: Heather Platisha, hplatisha@fredhutch.org
Oncology Insights with Dr. Petros Grivas - Episode 12
Host Petros Grivas, MD, PhD, FASCO, is joined by Stanley Riddell, MD, a world leader in the field of immunotherapy and professor emeritus of Fred Hutch’s Translational Science and Therapeutics Division. They discuss how Riddell helped shape the field’s progress, and the landscape of changes from transplantation to T-cell therapies that are transforming cancer treatment.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Bone marrow and stem cell transplants
Umbilical cord blood transplant with pooled stem cell product shows 96% survival and no graft-versus-host-disease in leukemia patients
A phase 2 clinical trial led by Filippo Milano, MD, PhD, treated patients undergoing a stem cell transplant for leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome with a combination of one unit of cord blood and one unit of a stem cell product derived from pooled cord blood. Trial results found that 27 of 28 patients survived at least one year, and none experienced graft-versus-host disease, a common transplant side effect. This new method could improve access for patients who need a stem cell transplant but lack a close donor match.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Is a well-behaved immune system key to successful transplant outcomes?
Kate Markey, MBBS, PhD, received a nearly $1 million dollar grant from the American Cancer Society (ACS) to explore the link between intestinal microbiome health and chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Markey’s research shows that bone marrow transplants greatly damage the microbiome, leading to poor patient outcomes including cGVHD. Using funding from the ACS, Markey will investigate ways to limit this damage and improve microbiome health for transplant patients, which could lead to better patient outcomes overall.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Infectious diseases
Answering WHO’s call with a new way to track how well we’re fighting the flu
Caroline Kikawa, a graduate student in evolutionary biologist Jesse Bloom, PhD,’s Bloom Lab, developed a new blood-testing method for the World Health Organization (WHO) that could improve the effectiveness of seasonal flu vaccines. Kikawa published the largest single-study dataset of influenza-fighting antibodies in the journal Virus Evolution. The data won Kikawa a Beyond The Journal award for exemplary data sharing, and helped inform the flu vaccine composition used this year in the southern hemisphere.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Community impact
Fred Hutch funds 10 Washington state initiatives to expand cancer prevention
Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Community Grants Program awarded $145,500 to 10 cancer prevention projects across Washington state. Grants will support community-led solutions for cancer prevention, screening and education, particularly for underserved populations. The program drew a record number of proposals for the second year in a row, demonstrating a growing awareness of the program and the need for locally driven prevention initiatives.
Media contact: Kat Wynn, kwynn@fredhutch.org
Registration for Obliteride 2026 now open
Fred Hutch Obliteride, Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s annual bike ride and 5K walk/run to support cancer research and care, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 8. Now in its 14th year, the community event has generated funding for novel treatments for cancers including breast, colon and pancreatic; new insight into cancer risk and prevention; and community partnerships to improve public health.
Media contact: Kat Wynn, kwynn@fredhutch.org
Awards and recognition
Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem receives ASGCT mentorship award
Hans-Peter Kiem, MD, PhD, holder of the Stephanus Family Endowed Chair for Cell and Gene Therapy, received the 2026 George Stamatoyannopoulos Mentorship Award from the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. The award recognizes mentorship and support for students and early-career professionals; Kiem is honored for his numerous contributions through his laboratory and his leadership role within the organization.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Fred Hutch researchers receive prestigious R01 awards
Scientists Yunda Huang, PhD, Maria Lemos, PhD, MPH, Bo Zhang, PhD, and Karsten Eichholz, PhD, in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division each received prestigious R01 grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These awards will support multi-year investigations into HIV reservoirs, biomarkers of vaccine efficacy and the way pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) influences antibody pharmacokinetics.
Media contact: Claire Hudson, crhudson@fredhutch.org
Science spotlight
Science Spotlight is a monthly installment of articles written by postdoctoral fellows that summarize new research papers from Fred Hutch scientists. If you’re interested in learning more or covering these topics, contact media@fredhutch.org.
- Bad gut bacteria contribute to bacteremia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
- A triplet of drugs extends progression-free survival in advanced breast cancer
- Evolution of a stomach bug: Helicobacter pylori sticks around to survive
- Bringing gene therapy to esophageal cancer, one sip at a time
- When fear gets in the way of a life-saving test
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Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Fred Hutch Cancer Center unites individualized care and advanced research to provide the latest cancer treatment options while accelerating discoveries that prevent, treat and cure cancer and infectious diseases worldwide.
Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is an independent, nonprofit organization and the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington. We have earned a global reputation for our track record of discoveries in cancer, infectious disease and basic research, including important advances in bone marrow transplantation, immunotherapy, HIV/AIDS prevention and COVID-19 vaccines. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services. Fred Hutch also serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program.