Nora Disis, MD

2025 Rivkin Center/CARE Fund

University of Washington

Project Summary
Recurrent ovarian cancer that is resistant to chemotherapy is especially difficult to treat. To address this, Dr. Disis developed a vaccine that teaches the immune system to recognize and attack ovarian cancer cells. In animal studies, the vaccine slowed tumor growth, prevented cancer from spreading, and made tumors more sensitive to chemotherapy. Now, Dr. Disis aims to create a stronger anti-cancer immune response specifically in the stomach by testing a new way to deliver the vaccine—on gold beads through the skin. If successful, this research will pave the way to a clinical trial for the vaccine.

Bio
Dr. Disis is the Helen B. Slonaker Endowed Professor for Cancer Research at the University of Washington (UW), Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology at UW and a Member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She is the Director of UW Medicine’s Cancer Vaccine Institute. Her research interest is in the discovery of new immunologic targets in solid tumors for the development of vaccine and cellular therapy for the treatment and prevention of common malignancies. She holds several patents in the field cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Disis is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians. She is an American Cancer Society Clinical Professor, Deputy Editor, JAMA, and the Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Oncology.