Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit research and treatment organization based in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to eliminating cancer and infectious diseases as causes of human suffering and death.[1][3] Founded in 1975, the center emerged from the Pacific Northwest Research Foundation established in 1956 by William B. Hutchinson, who named the organization after his younger brother Fred, a major league pitcher who died of lung cancer at age 45.[8] ## Organizational Structure and Reach Fred Hutch operates as the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Washington state.[3] The organization employs more than 6,000 people across eight clinical care sites providing medical oncology, infusion, radiation, and proton therapy services, with network affiliations spanning five states.[3][4] In 1998, the center formed the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance with the University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle Children's, expanding its clinical reach while maintaining its NCI designation.[8] ## Research Leadership and Achievements The center has earned global recognition for pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation, immunotherapy including CAR T-cell therapy, HIV/AIDS prevention, and COVID-19 vaccine development.[2][3] This legacy traces to Nobel Prize-winning research, including Dr. E. Donnall Thomas's groundbreaking bone marrow transplant work.[2] The organization's research has saved hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide through translating discoveries into cures.[6] ## Core Values and Strategic Focus Fred Hutch operates on principles of collaboration, compassion, and determination.[1][3] The center emphasizes precision oncology and personalized medicine, leveraging molecular diagnostics and genomic profiling to tailor treatments to individual patients.[2] Strategic priorities include blood stem cell transplantation, cancer prevention, vaccine development, and data-driven research approaches