Fred Hutch

What happens when rising scientists get just three minutes to pitch how AI could transform research and patient care? At Fred Hutch's annual Translational Data Science Integrated Research Center retreat, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows took the stage in a fast-paced "Fast Pitch AI" competition that felt part speed dating, part Shark Tank. From using AI to study centuries-old viruses and improve vaccine research to predicting cancer treatment responses and understanding tumor recurrence, trainees showcased innovative ideas with the potential to accelerate scientific discovery.

A glimpse into a day in the life of a Fred Hutch intern. 🔬 Meet Tre Simmons, an undergraduate student at Talladega College spending his summer in Fred Hutch’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Under the mentorship of molecular biologist Dr. Kevin Barry, Tre is exploring how our innate immune system recognizes and responds to cancer. Insights from this research could help inform new approaches to boosting cancer-killing immune responses and saving more lives.

When it finally starts to get warm in Seattle, we’re often tempted to go outside and soak up the rays — but let’s be safe about it. Your skin is more sensitive to UV rays if you’ve been treated for skin cancer in the past or received radiation therapy, your immune system is weakened, or you are taking medications that increase your sun sensitivity. Here are a few tips to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Read more: https://bit.ly/4wi5Izl

Congratulations to Fred Hutch researchers Michael Haffner, MD, PhD, and Kevin Cheung, MD, on receiving prestigious multi-year grants from the V Foundation! Dr. Haffner was awarded a $1 million All-Star Grant to investigate DNA changes in cancer cells that could reveal new therapeutic targets for FDA-approved cancer drugs. Dr. Cheung received an $800,000 Translational Grant to advance new treatment strategies for triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive subtype with limited targeted therapies. These investments help drive discoveries that could lead to better outcomes for patients. Read more: https://bit.ly/4xsuzkX

Food, music and an incredible community united by one mission: curing cancer faster. What a perfect way to kick off Obliteride weekend! See you tomorrow, Obliteriders! 🚴♀️

Wildfire season is upon us and harmful smoke is blanketing the country. Fred Hutch public health researchers are working on digital solutions to help you protect your lungs ― and your loved ones ― from the health risks of air pollution and toxic smoke. Here are 5 easy and affordable ways to help you breathe easier when the air quality is poor. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/4pYxeQZ

A year after cancer surgery, Mike Cleek crossed an Ironman 70.3 finish line alongside the orthopedic oncologist who helped make it possible. 💙 Here's how a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma, a custom 3D-printed pelvic implant and an extraordinary doctor-patient partnership led to an unforgettable moment of resilience, recovery and hope. 🔗 Tap the link in the comments for more.

The bond that connects Bill Rutherford to Fred Hutch Cancer Center is woven from equal parts loss and gratitude, pain and love. It crosses state lines and spans decades. And it grows a little stronger with every discovery made in a lab and every patient whose life is extended as a result. Rutherford made his first gift to support research at Fred Hutch in June 1982 as a tribute to his youngest son, Eric. Eric had died a month earlier at age 19, after two bone marrow transplants to treat the leukemia he’d lived with since he was 3. “We had him for almost 20 years,” Rutherford said. “There’s no way we could repay …everyone at Fred Hutch for the 10 [extra] years he lived because of them.” Though they’ve certainly tried. The Rutherfords have continued to give annually over the last four and a half decades, supporting everything from leukemia research to Fred Hutch’s Patient and Family Assistance Fund. Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4wtHKC5

Postcards from the lab 📬🔬🍏 This summer, high school teachers from across Washington state stepped into research labs at Fred Hutch, working alongside mentors to deepen their scientific expertise. The experience equips educators with new skills, insights and inspiration they can bring back to their classrooms this fall.