Cancer Vaccine Institute at the University of Washington

#ThankfulThursday ?? VALLEY GIRLS & GUYS has united to support CVI since 2019, donating over $400,000 towards our breast and ovarian cancer research. Thank you to Valley Girls and Guys for your generosity. Because of community organizations like Valley Girls and Guys, CVI will be able to achieve our goal to bring breast cancer vaccines to clinics in the next 5-8 years. #cancervaccines

As a cancer doctor and now CVI’s Director of Clinical Trials, Dr. Shaveta Vinayak has long been known for her dedication to researching and treating cancer. But at her recent keynote address for the 2024 Fred Hutch Metastatic Breast Cancer Survivorship event, she stepped out of her professional role and into a deeply personal one — sharing publicly for the first time her journey from oncologist to oncology patient. She spoke to an audience of caregivers and patients, imbued with quiet strength. The silent hum of respectful listening with neighbors sitting shoulder to shoulder and comforting each other with a tissue or a gentle rub on the back. The vulnerability she offered rippled throughout the room. This was not just about one woman’s battle with cancer but the collective resilience of so many who walk a similar path. Listen to Dr. Vinayak's keynote address titled “My Big Fat Metastatic Life” (timestamp 11:45): https://lnkd.in/gfUZCUGA Read our blog on her story: https://lnkd.in/dP_QUPYb #CancerVaccines #CancerResearch #BreastCancer

#ThankfulThursday ?? Safeway and Albertsons employees and customers have united to support CVI, donating $487,129.30 from their recent check-stand campaign. Thank you to Safeway and Albertsons for your generosity. Because of corporations like Safeway and Albertsons, CVI was able to hire a Nurse Practitioner who is creating greater patient access to our clinical trials. #cancervaccines

CVI Director Dr. Mary (Nora) Disis received new funding from The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to continue her work on designing a vaccine that prevents breast cancer by targeting obesity. Obesity is an important risk factor for many cancers, especially breast cancer as it can increase a woman’s risk of developing the disease by 20-40%. The fat tissue can trigger an immune response that causes sustained inflammation, which promotes malignant cell transformation that can’t be eliminated simply by losing weight. Using a similar technology to the CVI’s other cancer vaccines, Dr. Disis is developing an anti-inflammatory vaccine called ADVac that is designed to reverse diabetes, prevent breast cancer, and be affordable. Read more about ADVac and other BCRF fundings via Fred Hutch: https://lnkd.in/gMCmMw_S Photo Credit: Lisa Stromme Warren #BreastCancer #CancerVaccine #Obesity

#ThankfulThursday ?? In Concert for Cancer has united the music community to support CVI since 2023, donating $89,500 towards our research. Thank you to In Concert for Cancer for their generosity. Because of supporters like In Concert for Cancer, we are developing cancer vaccines for the most common and deadly cancers: breast, ovarian, lung, prostate, bladder, and colon. #cancervaccines #UWcvi

CVI Director Dr. Mary (Nora) Disis visited Spokane, Washington last month to share the progress and promise of cancer vaccines as a prevention and cure. In recognition of October as #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, Dr Disis hosted a free community lecture at Gonzaga University and spoke to local media outlets about the different cancer vaccines being developed at the CVI. "Many cancers, once considered death sentences when I started the practice of oncology 25 years ago, can now be managed, allowing patients to live full lives," Dr. Disis said on NonStop Local KHQ-TV. Watch the full broadcast: https://lnkd.in/ga_BXBD7 Read on The Spokesman-Review: https://lnkd.in/gsCbVyJz #CancerVaccines

Dr. Shaveta Vinayak, CVI Clinical Trials Director, will be speaking at the 2024 Fred Hutch Metastatic Breast Cancer: From Surviving to Thriving event this Saturday, November 2nd. Dr. Vinayak will be giving the keynote address entitled “Surviving and thriving with MBC”. She will talk about breast cancer research at the CVI and her personal perspective and experience. The conference is hybrid (in-person and Zoom) held at Fred Hutch, Thomas Building, Pelton Auditorium and is open to Fred Hutch and/or University of Washington as well as external patients and caregivers. To register, visit https://lnkd.in/gR2MHFdT or scan the QR code in the flyer.

Congratulations to?our very own CVI Founder and Director Dr. Mary (Nora) Disis for being honored as the 2024 Inventor of the Year by UW Medicine! This award is the culmination of over two decades of persistent work. Dr. Disis began investigating the immune response to cancers when many did not believe there was one. Her systematic investigation and discoveries slowly unveiled novel data and mechanisms that have led to the development of cancer vaccines, which are now in phase II clinical trials and making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients. Join the celebration in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/grCxwpWw Photo Credits: Jim Bennett #InventorOfTheYear #Trailblazer #CancerVaccines

"What would it feel like living with cancer and working in a space where I’m trying to help advance cancer therapies?" On the SHE MD Podcast, CVI Executive Director Dr. Kiran Dhillon recounted her experience of receiving a diagnosis for the very disease she had been studying throughout her professional career. Now, she’s looking to prevent breast cancer using vaccines through research at the Cancer Vaccine Institute. "Once I started, the overwhelming feeling was hope and joy at looking at the results…I’m inspired by the work we’re doing," Dr. Dhillon said. She said we can expect to see the first FDA-approved breast cancer vaccine in the next 5 to 8 years. But achieving this requires everyone at the table: collaborators, funders, regulators, patients, government, pharma, and the broader public. This is why the partnership with groups such as the Cancer Vaccine Coalition is crucial. Co-guest Kristen Dahlgren, CEO of the Cancer Vaccine Coalition, shared how vaccine research inspired her to leave her media career and focus on helping advance the field — with the goal of bringing these to every patient in need. Listen to Dr. Dhillon and Dahlgren’s journeys in fighting and finding a cure for cancer on the SHE MD Podcast, hosted by Dr. Thais Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney: https://lnkd.in/g429ZPAY #BreastCancer #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #CancerVaccines

Our very own CVI Founder and Director Dr. Mary (Nora) Disis was recently featured in the The Wall Street Journal as a leading researcher on the development of cancer vaccines. “It’s like the little train that could has finally reached the top of the hill,” she told WSJ. Read more about the history, science, and various studies across the nation on cancer vaccines via WSJ: https://lnkd.in/gu9wZidz