Fred Hutch

Thank you to the V Foundation for their generous recognition of Dr. Nancy Davidson at a recent Seattle Kraken game! 🏒 Our researchers at Fred Hutch are grateful for the prestigious grants and ongoing support that fuel our mission to prevent and eliminate cancer and infectious disease. Together, we’re translating discoveries into breakthroughs!

“This is one of the busiest flu seasons in a decade if not longer,” said Steven Pergam, MD, MPH, medical director of infection prevention at Fred Hutch. “There is lots of flu out there and a number of early reported deaths.” There are three vaccines available to protect against respiratory viruses: flu, COVID-19 and RSV. And no, it’s not too late to get vaccinated this season. Read more: https://bit.ly/43QuP1C

It's never "just cancer treatment." Whether patients and their families need counseling, access to services or help navigating a complex medical system, Fred Hutch's #SocialWorkers are here to provide compassionate support. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hcyKcg #SocialWorkAwarenessMonth

World-class care starts with a world-class team. Loan Pham, an infusion nurse in our GI Oncology clinic, talks about how the supportive environment on her team leads to a better experience for patients, families and providers alike. Learn more about our GI Oncology program: https://bit.ly/3FrT9gb #ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth

Meet Dr. Melody Campbell, a structural biologist whose journey from a musical childhood in Okemos, Michigan, to leading a world-class electron microscopy lab is nothing short of inspiring. Raised in a family of musicians, Melody started as part of the Campbell Quartet, but her curiosity for science led her to structural biology, where she’s now making waves at Fred Hutch. Her lab focuses on integrins, proteins vital to immunity and linked to diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders. Using a cutting-edge imaging technique called cryogenic electron microscopy, or cryoEM, Campbell's team visualizes these proteins in ways that were once impossible. Understanding what these tiny structures look like can help us fix them when something goes wrong, which is what happens in cancer and other diseases. Read more from Northwest Asian Weekly: https://bit.ly/41MHC3G

The most common type of brain tumor, meningioma, grows from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. While many are benign (non-cancerous, a subset can behave aggressively, recur rapidly despite surgery and radiation, and often cause death. The traditional approach to grading these tumors involves using a microscope to visually examine tumor samples for tell-tale signs of cancer. But the eyeball test doesn't always work. Dr. Eric Holland and his team at Fred Hutch have pioneered a new approach. Instead of relying solely on appearance, they're classifying tumors based on their underlying biology. This breakthrough could improve meningioma diagnosis and potentially transform treatment strategies for other solid-tumor diseases like lung and breast cancer. #BrainWeek 🧠 Read more: https://bit.ly/3DCONT0

Art can also serve as a form of therapy, helping patients cope with anxiety, depression, and trauma by providing a safe space for self-expression and reflection. Israt Audry, MSW, LICSW, is a Clinical Oncology Social Worker in the BMT and IMTX clinics at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. They are also Fred Hutch's inaugural art-based therapy provider, bringing a transformative approach to patient care through the healing power of art. “In my career as a mental health practitioner, I have always aimed to approach my clients with holistic offerings,” says Audry. “It’s important for me to go beyond traditional talk therapy by incorporating embodied practices that allow individuals to not only rationally and intellectually understand their experiences but also connect with the mind-body-spiritual relationship and see how it impacts them.” We sat down with Audry to learn more about their role as an art therapist and their hopes for the new art therapy program at Fred Hutch. Read the full story via the link below. https://bit.ly/4imqkAf #mentalhealthawareness #arttherapy #socialworkappreciationmonth

Thanks to everyone who joined us last weekend at our Colorectal Cancer Community Awareness Event! Attendees had the opportunity to learn about #colorectalcancer by touring CECE, our large inflatable colon, talk with providers and survivors, get resources from local healthcare organizations and more. 📸 Check out these photos from the event. YMCA of Greater Seattle Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Public Health – Seattle & King County Colon Cancer Stars UW Medicine

They call themselves the “Regals and Reguys” — a group of retired Fred Hutch #nurses who dedicated decades of their lives to patient care, advancing clinical research and refining cancer treatments that have saved thousands of lives. Through years of triumphs, challenges and shared experiences, they formed lasting friendships that have withstood the test of time. #FH50

Endoscopists performing #colonoscopies focus on the colon, a five-foot-long tunnel, to detect polyps—small cell clusters that could turn cancerous if left untreated. "Large polyps are easy to spot," says Dr. David Hockenbery, medical director of the procedure suite and head of gastroenterology and hepatology at Fred Hutch. "Some are round and protrude into the center of the colon, so they're hard to miss." However, flat polyps that don’t protrude are harder to detect, increasing the risk of them developing into colon cancer. GI Genius, a new #AI technology at Fred Hutch, helps spot these "stealth" polyps during colonoscopy scans. "We are early adopters, and we are already seeing that AI can really help," Hockenbery says, explaining how it aids endoscopists in this Q&A. https://bit.ly/3Xyr39o