Clinical Research Programs

Division researchers conduct studies in the laboratory and at the bedside, where we run clinical trials investigating lifesaving therapies for patients. Our priority is translating our most promising scientific discoveries into real-world applications for the patients who need them most. This includes revolutionary techniques in immunotherapy as well as advances in treatments to improve patient outcomes and reduce toxicities and other complications.

Thanks to the caliber of the scientists and clinicians at Fred Hutch, along with our commitment to creative cross-disciplinary research, we are able to conduct world-class research with real-world impact in curing cancer and other serious diseases. Our key research areas include transplantation, tumor biology, cancer genomics and eliminating serious complications, like graft-versus-host disease, among others.
 

Transplantation Biology

Beginning with the initial discovery of bone marrow transplantation as a cure for leukemia and other blood cancers, Fred Hutch researchers and clinicians have worked tirelessly to make transplantation safer and more effective. Our current work aims to improve the process at every stage. We are developing less toxic techniques for eliminating diseased cancer cells in preparation for transplantation. We are improving the chance of matching blood products for transplantation, for example by using expanded cord blood. And we are working to eliminate relapse as well as serious complications, like graft-versus-host disease and infections.
 

Predicting Outcomes for Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The Sorror Lab has developed risk assessment tools to better predict survival after blood stem cell transplantation for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The team focuses on sick or older patients, identifying customized markers and predicters of health that can help providers and patients optimize their treatment decisions.

AML Treatment Tools

Reducing Complications in Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

The Storb Lab combines basic and clinical research to understand and eliminate barriers to successful hematopoeitic stem cell transplantation. These include toxicity, graft-versus-host disease and graft failure. The program’s goal is to continually improve treatment of patients with blood cancers and genetic diseases. The team also developed “mini” transplants, which are safer and less taxing for older patients.

Storb Lab

Immunotherapy

Just as bone marrow transplantation was revolutionary in the 1970s, immunotherapy represents the cutting edge of cancer treatment today. The goal is to train and empower our natural immune system to fight cancer. Fred Hutch scientists are engaged in laboratory and clinical research to understand the molecular underpinnings of immunity, so we can train our immune cells to recognize and eliminate cancer and other diseases. Research also focuses on eliminating the molecular shields cancer cells can use to evade the immune system. Plus we are exploring ways to use antibodies to target toxins directly to cancer cells without harming surrounding healthy tissue. In the Clinical Research Division, we operate a robust translational research program aimed at advancing laboratory innovations into clinical trials, where they can treat patients. Division researchers collaborate with Hutch scientific colleagues through many projects including the Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center.
 

Program in Immunology

Program in Immunology researchers are studying how immune cells respond to disease and how to safely enhance immune responses to better control, cure and potentially prevent cancers and other serious diseases. The team is advancing many state-of-the-art immunotherapy approaches and has initiated a series of clinical trials to treat patients with melanoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer and lung cancer. Additional research focuses on developing and testing immunotherapy to treat life-threatening viral infections, including HIV as well as to prevent graft-versus-host disease, a common complication of blood cell transplantation.

Program in Immunology

 

 

Genetic Research and Therapeutics

The Division maintains a focus on understanding the genetics of cancer formation and progression. This enables our laboratory and clinical researchers to identify pathways and mechanisms that could be important areas for developing cancer therapies. We also conduct high-throughput research to screen and analyze agents for anti-cancer activity.
 

Connections Between Blood Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases

The Shadman Group studies the epidemiology of blood cancer as well as the associations between blood cancers and autoimmune disorders, including allergies and asthma. Using VITAL cohort data as the basis of their analysis, the team was among the first to identify a connection between blood cancers and autoimmune disease.

Shadman Group

Biomarkers and Early Detection

The Division prioritizes examining molecular markers for cancer progression or prognosis. These markers can also help in early detection, enabling patients to get treated before their cancer can progress. Understanding markers of progression and prognosis helps clinicians and patients make accurate, evidence-based treatment decisions.
 

Treatment Complications and Survivorship

Despite our advances in cancer treatment and care, many therapies remain toxic and have side-effects that can last for years after treatment. This includes graft-versus-host disease as well as muscle weakness, heart problems, and mental and emotional issues. Division researchers maintain a program of robust scientific inquiry into the long-term consequences of cancer treatment, with the goal of eliminating severe side-effects and symptoms.
 

Biobehavioral Sciences

The Biobehavioral Sciences program at Fred Hutch aims to understand and reduce the biobehavioral and mental health impacts of cancer treatment over time. Working with physicians and clinical researchers throughout the US, the team conduct large-scale studies to identify and reduce these symptoms in patients from treatment through survivorship.

Biobehavioral Sciences

Preventing Graft-versus Host Disease

The Lee Lab focuses on hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients and eliminating chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). The team heads the the Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease Consortium within the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network, and Fred Hutch serves as the coordinating center.

Lee Lab

Pediatric Oncology

Clinical Research Division doctors and scientists strive to improve our understanding of pediatric cancer, so we can treat and prevent cancer in children. Our researchers and clinician scientists treat patients and conduct clinical trials at Fred Hutch and our partner patient care organization, Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Pediatric Oncology Program

Solid Tumor Specialties

Fred Hutch established our reputation as an outstanding cancer research institute for our early innovations in treating blood cancer with revolutionary therapeutic techniques. For the past two decades we have been building an equally robust program to understand and investigate solid tumors.

Fred Hutch and Seattle Children’s Hospital maintain some of the best treatment outcomes in the world, thanks to our innovations in care for people with solid tumor cancer. Our specialists include researchers and clinicians treating and studying prostate, lung, breast, pancreatic, intestinal, skin and head and neck cancers, among others. We continually improve our understanding of disease progression and develop safer, more effective treatments that we advance to our patients through translational medicine.

Clinical Biostatistics

The statisticians in the Clinical Biostatistics program design and analyze data from the experiments that drive the clinical research in our division. The biostatisticians collaborate extensively with the clinical investigators to lead the design, analysis, and interpretation of results from studies to obtain the most accurate, evidence-based scientific conclusions to best inform patient treatment and care.