Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine

In Seattle, WA: Supporting the research and development of vaccines to treat and prevent cancer and its recurrence.

Supporting the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine

In Seattle, WA, the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine is dedicated to researching and developing vaccines to treat and prevent cancer and its recurrence.

Established 20 years ago, the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine is now the largest academic group in the U.S. dedicated to the development of cancer vaccines. Currently, the CVI has more than ten cancer vaccines in development and three in phase two clinical trials.

Cancer vaccines have the potential to dramatically reduce, and even eliminate, suffering and death caused by cancer, particularly for solid tumor cancers such as ovarian, prostate, breast, lung, colorectal, and bladder cancers.

The CVI’s vaccines train the immune system to recognize cancer cells as dangerous and destroy them, eliminating cancer at the single-cell level.

The CVI is now at a tipping point in their research, with cancer vaccines likely to be approved for clinical use and available to the public in the next five years or so.

Stories of Hope & Progress

Anita’s Cancer Vaccine Story

“In 2005, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. The prognosis wasn’t good.

Then I had the opportunity to be part of a phase 1 clinical trial for a breast cancer vaccine at the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine.

That was 17 years ago, and I am still cancer-free today.

The vaccine has given me a lot of extra time with my family, and I am so grateful that I was able to participate in the trial.”

— Anita, clinical trial participant

CVI Director, Dr. Nora Disis is interviewed on Today Show! Click here to watch the video!

Learn about the CVI’s current clinical trials: Click Here

Learn about supporting the CVI: Click Here