When science meets care, we make life beyond cancer a reality.
Meet Burcu and Dan
Through close collaboration, Burcu and Dan make it possible for those with prostate cancer — as well as family members with higher risk — to be diagnosed earlier so that lifesaving procedures like radiation and surgery can begin without delay.
Burcu F. Darst, Ph.D., left, is a genetic epidemiologist researching the genetic markers in prostate cancer patients. She is focused on understanding and improving the methods used to detect prostate cancer and predict the potential risk of the disease across diverse patient populations. She also leads research on genetic testing in precision medicine. Learn more about Burcu.
Dan Lin, M.D., right, specializes in surgical treatment of genitourinary cancers and conducts prostate cancer research. He has used Burcu’s research findings to develop targeted precision treatments for patients based on each person’s genetic profile and risk assessments. In addition to his roles as a physician and researcher at Fred Hutch, Dan is also a University of Washington School of Medicine professor of Urology and serves as chief of Urologic Oncology for UW Medicine. Learn more about Dan.
When precision diagnosis meets precision treatment, we make life beyond cancer a reality.
Meet Vida and Neel
Detecting cancer early is critical to the best possible outcomes, and the scientific information on how to reduce cancer risk is increasing. It’s important everyone has access to that information and screenings as well as the latest treatments, something Vida and Neel are working on.
Vida Henderson, Ph.D., Pharm.D., left, is a cancer researcher working to expand patient access to cancer prevention and early detection services, particularly in underserved populations and high-risk communities. She is an expert in racial and gender health inequities and is leading a project to improve genetic counseling for Black women with a risk for hereditary breast cancer and working to improve diversity in clinical trials. Learn more about Vida.
Neelendu “Neel” Dey, M.D., right, is a physician and researcher working to understand how your body, diet and intestinal bacteria interact to find ways to prevent cancer. As a gastroenterologist, he treats patients with digestive issues associated with cancer or treatment, using targeted genetic testing to create personalized treatments. Neel's lab studies the gut microbiome — the communities of tiny organisms that live in our digestive tract — to understand how it may influence cancer risk. Learn more about Neel.
When new advances meet early access to care for everyone, we make life beyond cancer a reality.
Meet Sara and Cyrus
Sara and Cyrus are partners on a study using genetic data to evaluate the risk of a breast cancer diagnosis and tailor a treatment to the individual — and to those who may be diagnosed in the future. This precision medicine has huge potential to save lives.
Sara Javid, M.D., left, is a surgeon specializing in breast cancer who has earned recognition for her research examining disparities in treatment received by underrepresented populations. She collaborates frequently with Cyrus to offer breast cancer patients participation in his research studies that bring new hope for patients. In addition to her role at Fred Hutch, she is a professor of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine. Learn more about Sara.
Cyrus Ghajar, Ph.D., right, is a researcher focused on metastasis, or the spread of cancer cells within the body. A successful cancer treatment can be undone by a few lingering tumor cells, so he is approaching the problem from an unexpected angle. Cancer cells can break away as a tumor forms, finding new homes in distant organs where they can lie quiet for a long time before becoming active. His work to understand these various tissue environments aims to stop the dormant cells from reactivating — and helps Sara treat breast cancer. Learn more about Cyrus.
When diagnosis meets data, we make life beyond cancer a reality.
Fred Hutch is an independent organization that also serves as the cancer program for
Look Beyond
The more closely care and discovery can work together, the faster we'll find cures. That's the vision behind the recent merger that united the former Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, creating Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.