News — SEATTLE — April 2, 2025 — Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutch Cancer Center research findings, patient stories and other news.
If you’re covering the annual meeting for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) from April 25-30 in Chicago, IL, connect with our media team at [email protected].
April is the awareness month for esophageal, testicular and head and neck cancers. Reach out to [email protected] if you’re looking for experts.
Nutrition and wellness
Registered dietitian Paula Charuhas Macris, MS, RD, was one of nine dietitians working exclusively with (BMT) patients at Fred Hutch in the early days of the Nobel Prize-winning treatment. Throughout her 37-year career, she’s used nutrition to bolster strength and resilience in patients. Charuhas Macris currently supervises , where she works with adult allogeneic (donor cell) transplant, long-term follow-up transplant and survivorship clinic patients. Patients can contact the service at any time for support, even after they’ve finished treatment.
Media contact: Kat Wynn, [email protected]
Clinical Israt Audry, MSW, LICSW, is Fred Hutch’s first art-based therapy provider, bringing a transformative approach to patient care through the healing power of art. The pilot program builds on research that art therapy improves symptoms of depression and anxiety and provides a space for patients in both individual sessions and support groups. Audry works with patients in Fred Hutch’s blood and marrow transplant and immunotherapy clinics.
Media contact: Kat Wynn, [email protected]
Clinical care
Bekah Kooy was diagnosed with at 38 years old, despite following a healthy lifestyle and having no genetic factors. Fred Hutch providers , and , utilized immunotherapy for treatment and circulating tumor DNA () biomarkers to monitor Kooy’s chance of recurrence. Rates of colon cancer are rising in young people, and , advises and adjusting . Issaka holds the Kathryn Surace-Smith Endowed Chair in Health Equity Research.
Media contact: Claire Hudson, [email protected]
Awards and recognition
Fred Hutch announced the recipients of the annual . Named for molecular biologist , the annual award celebrates the exceptional achievements of graduate students in biological science. Jeremy Hollis, a graduate research assistant in the at Fred Hutch, is one of 10 awardees. His research examines a historic protein component implicated in a variety of diseases and disorders and will provide a foundational understanding of cellular evolution.
Media contact: Shayla Ring, [email protected]
Virologist , and evolutionary biologist , were elected to the American Academy of Microbiology’s . Jerome’s work studies the viruses causing chronic, incurable infections — like herpes simplex virus (HSV) — and the potential for gene therapy to cure them. Bloom examines the mutation of genes and proteins and how they shape fast-evolving viruses such as influenza and COVID-19.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, [email protected]
Science spotlight
is a monthly installment of articles written by postdoctoral fellows that summarizes new research papers from Fred Hutch scientists. If you’re interested in learning more or covering these topics, contact [email protected]
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Fred Hutch Cancer Center unites individualized care and advanced research to provide the latest cancer treatment options while accelerating discoveries that prevent, treat and cure cancer and infectious diseases worldwide.
Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is an independent, nonprofit organization and the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington. We have earned a global reputation for our track record of discoveries in cancer, infectious disease and basic research, including important advances in bone marrow transplantation, immunotherapy, HIV/AIDS prevention and COVID-19 vaccines. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services. Fred Hutch also serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program.
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