Fred Hutch Innovation Lab

Spurring Novel Technology Development and Adoption

In the Fred Hutch Innovation Lab, we are leading the in-house development and early adoption of powerful new research technologies that hold the potential to drive lifesaving discoveries in cancer immunology and other areas of science.

Unlocking Secrets of Cell Activity

We are introducing technologies for spatial analysis of single-cell transcription profiling, giving scientists unprecedented insights into cells’ inner workings.

Profiling the Immune System

We are increasing the availability of T-cell receptor (VDJ) sequencing and other DNA-based technologies, making the complexity of the immune system more accessible to all scientists.

Driving Technological Innovation

We are discovering, testing and bringing new technologies online, targeting those of greatest utility for scientists at the vanguard of the promising field of immuno-oncology.

Our Facilities and Technology Pipeline

Our lab is one of the hallmarks of Fred Hutch’s Steam Plant building, a historic landmark newly redeveloped into a one-of-a-kind facility dedicated to spurring innovation at the nexus of data science and immunology.

There, we use a three-stage pipeline to develop novel technologies for use by the scientific community. First, we test, compare, advance and tailor new technologies that our Advisory Board has selected for their potential to facilitate the next discoveries in immunotherapy. Then, we work with selected researchers to evaluate the technology as they harness it to advance their early-stage research projects. Finally, we make that technology and the protocols and procedures we’ve developed available to researchers across the Hutch to accelerate their science.

Scientific Director

Dr. Jason Bielas

Dr. Bielas, scientific director of the Fred Hutch Innovation Lab (FHIL), is a leading authority on the development of innovative technology. The translational researcher develops new tools and technologies to measure biological information and gain new insights into biology that exceed the scope of the hypotheses being tested. Dr. Bielas' projects include a novel tool to spot cancer-causing mutations in ovarian cancer cells floating within a patient’s blood to detect the disease, often diagnosed late, in its early stages.