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Veatch
Joshua Veatch, MD, PhD

Joshua Veatch, MD, PhD

Medical Oncology

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Assistant Professor, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch
  • Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch
  • Member, Translational Data Science Integrated Research Center (TDS IRC), Fred Hutch
  • Affiliate Investigator, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Joshua Veatch is a board-certified medical oncologist and researcher at Fred Hutch who treats lung and skin cancers and studies and develops new immunotherapies.

Background

Dr. Veatch provides care for patients with melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and other advanced skin cancers, as well as lung cancers. His work in clinic is closely integrated with his research, with a shared goal of helping more patients achieve durable responses to treatment.

Dr. Veatch develops and tests new immunotherapies in the lab and in clinical trials. His research explores how tumor‑recognizing T cells, a type of immune cell, respond to solid tumors and how those responses can be strengthened. One focus is on CD4, or “helper,” T cells and their role in coordinating the broader immune response to cancer. He is developing therapies in which a patient’s helper T cells are genetically engineered to better fight cancer, as well as therapeutic cancer vaccines designed to boost T‑cell responses. In a project with Dr. Stanley Riddell, a Fred Hutch professor emeritus, he is also developing mutation‑targeted cancer vaccines and new T‑cell treatments for patients with specific genetic changes, such as BRAF mutations.

Area of Clinical Practice
Lung cancer, skin cancer

Follow Joshua Veatch

“I believe in patient-centered care, and want to give patients a caring environment where they understand their treatment and have control over decisions. I also want to develop new therapies to help more patients.”

— Dr. Veatch

Why do you practice oncology?

I have always been drawn to science. I ultimately decided to study medicine and make a career out of it because of the meaningful relationships that physicians can have with their patients. I am both excited about the potential for developing new and better treatments for cancer and am drawn to cancer care because of the depth of the relationships that can be formed with patients while they are going through something so hard and significant. 

Diseases Treated

Lung Cancer

Melanoma

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Skin Cancer 

Research Interests

The Veatch lab studies tumor antigen specific T cell responses in human solid tumors, and strategies to enhance these T cell responses to improve clinical outcomes.

One focus is understanding the role of “helper” CD4 T cells in shaping and activating other immune cells in the tumor immune microenvironment in cancer, and in using engineered CD4 T cells targeting tumor antigens as cancer therapy in melanoma, lung cancer, and other tumor types.  One upcoming clinical trial will target the antigen the common BRAF V600E mutation with CD4 T cells in melanoma and other tumors.

A second approach is the development of novel therapeutic cancer vaccines to enhance tumor specific T cell responses, and an upcoming trial will test one such vaccine in non-small cell lung cancer.

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, University of Washington

Residency, University of Washington

MD, University of Washington

BS, Northwestern University

Board Certifications

Hematology, 2016; Medical Oncology 2016; Internal Medicine, 2013; American Board of Internal Medicine

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians and researchers. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Veatch

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians and researchers conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by others in their field and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Veatch's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders. 

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Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.

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Stories

All news
New initiative bolsters Washington state life sciences
New initiative bolsters Washington state life sciences Fred Hutch researchers awarded over $4M in grants from the Washington Research Foundation November 13, 2024
His immune system eradicated his melanoma. Could other patients’ bodies be taught to do the same thing?
His immune system eradicated his melanoma. Could other patients’ bodies be taught to do the same thing? How one man’s T cells are guiding the development of next-gen immunotherapies June 19, 2018

Contact Information

206.667.5108