Human Biology Division

Exploring Biological Systems to Find New Ways to Fight Cancer and Other Diseases

Grounded in high-quality science, researchers in the Human Biology Division perform fundamental, applied and translational research in model organisms and in vitro systems. With backgrounds in molecular and cell biology, genomics, genetics, virology, infectious disease, computational biology, pathology and clinical research, these investigators form an interdisciplinary team that in other institutions would likely be spread out over multiple departments. Together, they propel research toward new and improved approaches to the treatment and prevention of cancers and infectious diseases.

A group of research scientists.

Diverse Knowledge

Our faculty apply individual advances in human biology to their research into cancer and infectious diseases.

A research scientist dropping liquid into a petri dish.

Accelerating Advances

Our labs explore cancer and infectious diseases at a molecular and genetic level to discover new forms of treatment.

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“What drives me is making an impact in patients’ lives. Research is a continuous and intense process, not a short-term outcome.”

— Dr. Taran Gujral, cancer biologist

A Multidisciplinary Approach

Learn about our scientific leadership, job openings, upcoming events and seminars hosted by the Human Biology Research Team.

Latest Human Biology News

All Human Biology news
Fred Hutch study finds genetic driver of drug resistance in small cell lung cancer Researchers use CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool on tumor cells grown in mice to better model how tumors that initially respond to chemotherapy become resistant May 8, 2025
Rare cancer researchers find promising target in fibrolamellar cancer Fred Hutch’s TRACER initiative digs into aggressive liver cancer, hosts third rare cancer symposium May 1, 2025
New methods reveal cancer mechanism in ancient genes Fred Hutch researchers discover that overproduction of DNA packaging material predicts aggressive brain and breast tumors, which could lead to cheaper diagnostic tests and new drug therapies March 3, 2025
Tricking cells into trashing cancer Fred Hutch chemical biologist rapidly reduces lung tumors in mice with a tagging system that grabs cancer-causing proteins and hauls them out with the molecular trash January 9, 2025