Dong-Woo Kang, PhD, CEP

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

Phone: 206.675.5188

Email: dkang@fredhutch.org

Background

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

Dong-Woo Kang's Bibliography

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